Nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain: Inferences from granulite xenoliths (Calatrava Volcanic Field-Spanish central system)

So far, the nature and evolution of the lower crust under central Spain have been constrained mainly on the basis of a heterogeneous suite of granulite xenoliths from the Spanish Central System (SCS). In recent years, ultramafic volcanics from the Calatrava Volcanic Field (CVF) have also provided deep-seated crustal xenoliths which have not been studied in detail. Our data, combining mineral, whole-rock and isotopic geochemistry with U–Pb–Hf isotope ratios in zircons from the CVF and SCS xenoliths, highlight the felsic composition of the lower crust under central Iberia. A number of the Calatrava xenoliths represents Variscan igneous protoliths, which are a minor population in the SCS, and were likely formed by crystallisation of intermediate and felsic melts in the lower crust during the Variscan orogeny (leucodiorite protolith age of 314 ± 3 Ma and leucogranite protolith age of 308 ± 2.5 Ma). U–Pb data of metamorphic zircons show that granulite-facies metamorphism mainly occurred from 299 to 285 Ma in both areas. These ages are slightly younger than those of granitic intrusions that could be genetically related to the granulitic residue, which points to a main role of U–Pb isotope resetting in lower crustal zircons during HT or UHT conditions. The zircon U–Pb–Hf isotopic ratios support the idea that the lower crust in central Iberia consists mainly of Ordovician–Neoproterozoic metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks associated with the Cadomian continental arc of northern Gondwana. These rocks provide evidence of mixing between juvenile magmas and an enriched crustal component, ultimately extracted from an Eburnean crust. Other more evolved components present in detrital zircons are likely related to recycling of Archean crust derived from North Africa cratonic terranes.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000643

Incipient charnockites represent granulite formation on a mesoscopic scale and have received considerable attention in understanding fluid processes in the deep crust.Here we report new petrological data from an incipient charnockite locality at Rajapalaiyam in the Madurai Block,southern India,and discuss the petrogenesis based on mineral phase equilibrium modeling and pseudosection analysis. Rajapalaiyam is a key locality in southern India from where diagnostic mineral assemblages for ultrahigh-temperature（UHT） metamorphism have been reported.Proximal to the UHT rocks are patches and lenses of charnockite（Kfs + Qtz + Pl + Bt + Opx + Grt + Ilm） occurring within Opx-free Grt-Bt gneiss（Kfs + Pl + Qtz + Bt + Grt + Ilm + Mt） which we report in this study.The application of mineral equilibrium modeling on the charnockitic assemblage in NCKFMASHTO system yields a p-T range of～820℃and～9 kbar.Modeling of the charnockite assemblage in the MnNCKFMASHTO system indicates a slight shift of the equilibrium condition toward lower p and T（～760℃and～7.5 kbar）. which is consistent with the results obtained from geothermobarometry（710—760℃,6.7—7.5 kbar）. but significantly lower than the peak temperatures（>1000℃） recorded from the UHT rocks in this locality,suggesting that charnockitization is a post-peak event.The modeling of T versus molar H₂O content in the rock（M（H₂O）） demonstrates that the Opx-bearing assemblage in charnockite and Opxfree assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss are both stable at M（H₂O） = 0.3 mol%-0.6 mol%.and there is no significant difference in water activity between the two domains.Our finding is in contrast to the previous petrogenetic model of incipient charnockite formation which envisages lowering of water activity and stabilization of orthopyroxene through breakdown of biotite by dehydration caused by the infiltration of CO₂-rich fluid.T-X_Fe³⁺（= Fe₂O₃/（FeO + Fe₂O₃） in mole） pseudosections suggest that the oxidation condition of the rocks played a major role on the stability of orthopyroxene:Opx is stable at X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in charnockite.while Opx-free assemblage in Grt-Bt gneiss is stabilized at X_Fe³⁺ >0.12.Such low oxygen fugacity conditions of X_Fe³⁺ <0.03 in the charnockite compared to Grt-Bt gneiss might be related to the infiltration of a reduced fluid（e.g.,H₂O + CH₄） during the retrograde stage.     

西藏措勤麦嘎岩基的锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学和锆石Hf同位素:对中部拉萨地块早白垩世花岗岩类岩石成因的约束

西藏中部拉萨地块大规模早白垩世花岗岩类的岩浆源区和岩石成因迄今尚未得到很好约束,对这些问题的深入理解将有助于揭示拉萨地块白垩纪时期的岩浆作用过程及成矿背景。本文报道了中部拉萨地块代表性花岗岩基——措勤麦嘎岩基的锆石U-Pb年代学、全岩元素地球化学、Sr-Nd同位素和锆石Hf同位素数据。本文锆石U-Pb定年结果表明,麦嘎岩基花岗质岩主要侵位于122±1Ma和113±2Ma,闪长质包体与后者同期(113±2Ma)。122±1Ma花岗质岩属I型弱过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,(87Sr/86Sr)i值高(0.7147),全岩εNd(t)(-12.0)和锆石εHf(t)(-15.7～-11.1)为较大的负值,表明其很可能来源于古老下地壳物质的重熔。113±2Ma寄主花岗质岩为I型偏铝质-弱过铝质高钾钙碱性系列,相对于122±1Ma花岗质岩石,其(87Sr/86Sr)i比值偏低(0.7094～0.7156)、全岩εNd(t)值(-12.1～-7.3)和锆石εHf(t)值(-11.1～0.1)较高,很可能来源于古老下地壳物质的部分熔融,并含有更多幔源物质。闪长质包体(113±2Ma)为偏铝质中-高钾钙碱性系列,以变化范围大的(87Sr/86Sr)i(0.7058～0.7105)、负的全岩εNd(t)值(-10.7～-9.8)及负的锆石εHf(t)值(-14.0～-5.6)为特征,可能是古老富集岩石圈地幔物质部分熔融的产物或亏损地幔物质经历强烈地壳混染作用的结果。在目前已有资料条件下(缺乏同期基性岩石的相关数据),本文暂将麦嘎岩基113±2Ma寄主花岗质岩及同期闪长质包体解释为镁铁质岩浆与长英质岩浆发生不同程度岩浆混合作用的产物,这一解释可能对中部拉萨地块同期花岗类的岩石成因具普遍意义。麦嘎岩基及中部拉萨地块同期岩浆岩约113Ma幔源物质增加现象,可能是南向俯冲的班公湖-怒江洋壳岩石圈板片断离的结果。     

Tectonometamorphic evolution of the Sebadani eclogitic metagabbro and the Sambagawa schists, central Shikoku, Japan: 40Ar/39Ar mineral age constraints

Abstract The Sambagawa metamorphic belt exposed in central Shikoku records a high-P–T metamorphic event. It is represented by the Oboke nappe and structurally overlying, internally imbricated, Besshi nappe complex. These major structural units are in ductile thrust contact. A melange is developed along a ductile internal tectonic contact within the Besshi nappe complex. Tectonic emplacement of a high-T enclave (Sebadani eclogite) in the melange zone resulted in the development of a contact metamorphic aureole within the host Sambagawa rocks. ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar versus ³⁹Ar/⁴⁰Ar isotope correlation ages recorded by hornblende from the Sambagawa basic schists which surround the Sebadani enclave are 83.4 ± 0.3 Ma (within contact aureole) and 83.6 ± 0.5 Ma (outside aureole). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages recorded by muscovite from the same samples are 87.9 ± 0.3 and 89.3 ± 0.4 Ma. Amphibole from the amphibolite within the Sebadani enclave records isotope correlation ages of 93.7 ± 1.1 and 96.5 ± 0.7 Ma (massive interior) and 84.6 ± 1.2 Ma (marginal shear zone). Amphibole within the massive amphibolite is significantly higher in X_Mg than that within the host Sambagawa basic schists. The older ages recorded by amphibole within the Sebadani enclave are interpreted to date cooling through somewhat higher closure temperatures than which characterize the more Fe-rich amphibole in surrounding schists. The younger amphibole age recorded within the marginal shear zone probably indicates that crystallization of amphibole continued until cooling through the relatively lower amphibole closure temperatures. These results, together with the previously published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of the Sambagawa schists, suggest: (i) metamorphic culmination occurred in the Besshi nappe complex at c. 100–90 Ma; (ii) at c. 95 Ma the Besshi nappe complex was internally imbricated and tectonic enclaves were emplaced; (iii) at c. 85 Ma, the composite Besshi nappe was rapidly exhumed and tectonically emplaced over the Oboke nappe (which attained peak metamorphic conditions at c. 75 Ma); (iv) the Besshi and Oboke nappe complexes were further exhumed as a coherent tectonic unit and unconformably overlain by the Eocene Kuma Group at c. 50 Ma.     

Analysis of airborne magnetic and gravity anomalies of peninsular shield, India integrated with seismic and magnetotelluric results and gravity anomalies of Madagascar, Sri Lanka and East Antarctica

Modelling of gravity and airborne magnetic data integrated with seismic studies suggest that the linear gravity and magnetic anomalies associated with Moyar Bhavani Shear Zone (MBSZ) and Palghat Cauvery Shear Zone (PCSZ) are caused by high density and high susceptibility rocks in upper crust which may represent mafic lower crustal rocks. This along with thick crust (44–45 km) under the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) indicates collision of Dharwar craton towards north and SGT towards south with N–S directed compression during 2.6–2.5 Ga. This collision may be related to contemporary collision northwards between Eastern Madagascar–Western Dharwar Craton (WDC) and Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC). Arcuate shaped N and S-verging thrusts, MBSZ-Mettur Shear and PCSZ-Gangavalli Shear, respectively across Cauvery Shear zone system (CSZ) in SGT also suggest that the WDC, EDC and SGT might have collided almost simultaneously during 2.6–2.5 Ga due to NW–SE directed compressional forces with CSZ as central core complex in plate tectonics paradigm preserving rocks of oceanic affinity. Gravity anomalies of schist belts of WDC suggest marginal and intra arc basin setting.The gravity highs of EGFB along east coast of India and regional gravity low over East Antarctica are attributed to thrusted high-density lower crustal/upper mantle rocks at a depth of 5–6 km along W-verging thrust, which is supported by high seismic velocity and crustal thickening, respectively. It may represent a collision zone at about 1.0 Ga between India and East Antarctica. Paired gravity anomalies in the central part of Sri Lanka related to high density intrusives under western margin of Highland Complex and crustal thickening (40 km) along eastern margin of Highland Complex with several arc type magmatic rocks of about 1.0 Ga in Vijayan Complex towards the east may represent collision between them with W-verging thrust as in case of EGFB. The gravity high of Sri Lanka in the central part falls in line with that of EGFB, in case it is fitted in Gulf of Mannar and may represent the extension of this orogeny in Sri Lanka.     

Heterogeneity in crustal structure across the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT): Inferences from an analysis of gravity and magnetic fields in the Periyar plateau and adjoining areas

The study region forms the western part of the Madurai block (southern block) and shares several lithological characteristics of the Proterozoic exhumed South Indian Granulite Terrain (SGT). The crustal structure of the area has been derived from gravity data, constrained partly by aeromagnetic data. The Bouguer anomaly map of the region prepared based on detailed gravity observations shows a number of features (i) the Periyar lineament separates two distinctly different gravity fields, one, a high gravity gradient tending to be positive towards the coast in south west and significant gravity lows ranging from − 85 to as low as − 150 mGal in the NE covering a large part of the Periyar plateau (ii) within the broad gravity low, three localised circular anomalies of considerable amplitude occur in the region of Munnar granite. A magnetic low region in the central part coincides with the area of retrogressed charnockites and the major lineaments suggestive of a genetic link and considerable downward extent. The crustal models indicate that the upper layer containing exhumed lower crustal rocks (2.76 gm/cc) is almost homogeneous, most part of the gravity field resulting from variations in intracrustal layers of decharnockitised hornblendic gneisses and granite bodies. Below it, a denser layer (2.85 gm/cc) of unknown composition exists with Moho depth ranging from 36 to 41 km. The structure below the region is compared with that of two other segments of the SGT from which it differs markedly. The Wynad plateau forming the western part of the Northern Block of the SGT is characterised by a heterogeneity due to the presence of contrasting crustal blocks on either side of the Bavali shear zone, possibly a westward extension of the Moyar shear zone and presence of high density material in the mid-to-lower crustal portions. The crust below the Kuppam–Palani transect has a distinctive four-layer structure with a mid-crustal low density layer. The differences in crustal structure are consistent with the different tectonic settings of the three regions discussed in the paper. It is suggested that the crustal structure below the Kuppam–Palani transect corridor is not representative of the SGT as a whole, an aspect of great relevance to intra-continental comparisons and trans-continental reconstructions of continent configurations of the Gondwanaland.     

Origin of micro-layering in a deep magma chamber: Evidence from two ultramafic–mafic layered xenoliths from Puy Beaunit (French Massif Central)

The origin of magmatic layering is still hotly debated. To try to shed some light on this problem, two ultramafic–mafic layered xenoliths from Puy Beaunit (French Massif Central) were investigated in detail. The nodules belong to a stratiform intrusion emplaced in the deep crust during the Permian (257 ± 6 Ma; Féménias, O., Coussaert, N., Bingen, B., Whitehouse, M., Mercier, J.-C., Demaiffe, D., 2003. A Permian underplating event in late- to post-orogenic tectonic setting. Evidence from the mafic–ultramafic layered xenoliths from Beaunit (French Massif Central). Chem. Geol. 199 293–315.). The 3 to 5 cm thick nodules have, in common, a central orthopyroxenite layer; the succession of layers is, respectively, norite–orthopyroxenite–norite (PBN 00-01) and norite–orthopyroxenite–harzburgite (PBN 00-03). The variations of both major (by electron microprobe) and trace, essentially the RE, elements (by LA-ICP-MS) were measured in major mineral phases (orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, spinel) along cross-section perpendicular to the layering. Strong grain size, chemical and textural variations occur along these sections: they can be continuous or discontinuous, symmetrical or asymmetrical. Such complex variations cannot be solely related to a single magmatic history (fractional crystallisation, mineral sorting). Other processes such as element enrichment by residual liquid channelling along layer boundaries and/or sub-solidus recrystallisation and element redistribution must be invoked. It appears, in particular, that element distribution in the central orthopyroxenite layer could result from the injection of micro-sills of orthopyroxene-rich liquid between previously consolidated layers.     

东南极拉斯曼丘陵麻粒岩相岩石中早期残留矿物组合的特征及其变质作用条件

东南极拉斯曼丘陵出露的麻粒岩相泥质片麻岩和镁铁质麻粒岩经历了复杂的变形变质历史。代表前进的增厚事件的早期残留变质构造Ｄ１形成于１０００Ｍａ（Ｇｒｅｎｖｉｌｉａｎ）期间。对应于Ｄ１的变质峰期Ｍ１的变质组合以泥质片麻岩的石榴石和尖晶石变斑晶中的堇青石和夕线石包裹体以及镁铁质麻粒岩的石榴石变斑晶中的斜方辉石和斜长石包裹体为特征。在该区斯托尼斯半岛的紫苏黑云石英岩的粗粒紫苏辉石中发现了包裹的假蓝宝石＋磁铁矿和假蓝宝石＋尖晶石＋夕线石＋磁铁矿＋石英组合，这种假蓝宝石又包裹更细粒的尖晶石包裹体。石榴石－斜方辉石温度计及石榴石－斜方辉石－斜长石－石英压力计的计算表明Ｍ１变质作用最大的Ｐ－Ｔ条件为０．９５ＧＰａ和８７０℃。这些早期残留的矿物组合指示了其变质作用具有逆时针近等压冷却（ＩＢＣ）的Ｐ－Ｔ演化特征，反映了它们的形成是一个埋深期间前进加热的进变质作用过程。本文得出该区Ｍ１（１０００Ｍａ）变质作用的逆时针（ＩＢＣ）Ｐ－Ｔ轨迹可能与已存在的大陆壳下面的岩浆底侵作用及地壳内大量岩浆物质的侵入和结晶作用有关。此类型逆时针Ｐ－Ｔ轨迹不同于该区在晚期５００Ｍａ（Ｐａｎ－Ａｆｒｉｃａｎ）期间顺时针演化的Ｐ－Ｔ轨迹     

冀西北太古宙条带状麻粒岩的岩石学和地球化学特征

条带状麻粒岩是冀西北太古宙麻粒岩相带中特殊而重要的一种岩类，它由浅色条带和暗色条带组成，条带含量的比例变化不大。浅色条带由较多的斜长石、紫苏辉石、透辉石和一定量的石英组成，伴生少量小而细的磁铁矿；暗色条带由较多的紫苏辉石、透辉石和普通角闪石以及一定量的斜长石组成，伴生有较多较大的磁铁矿。少量黑云母在两种条带中均有所见。两种条带中的同种矿物的光性特征基本相同，而化学成分和稀土元素特征只有很少的差别。暗色条带为基性麻粒岩属ＴＨ２型拉斑玄武岩，而浅色条带的岩石为中酸性麻粒岩，相当英云闪长质类型。这种条带状的岩石形成于不同时期不同性质的岩浆作用和特定的构造环境。暗色条带的物源来自较早的（约２．８Ｇａ）亏损地幔，而浅色条带的物源来自较晚（约２．５Ｇａ）基性岩的部分熔融，与周围的大片区域性英云闪长岩的侵位大致同时。条带状麻粒岩不宜归入ＴＴＧ岩系