High-pressure mafic granulites in the Trans-North China Orogen: Tectonic significance and age

High-pressure mafic granulites (including retrograded eclogites) have been reported from the Trans-North China Orogen, a Paleoproterozoic orogenic belt along which two discrete continental blocks, referred to as the Eastern and Western Blocks, were amalgamated to form the North China Craton. Extensive metamorphic investigations and geochronology carried out over the last few years provide important insights into the age and significance of these high-pressure granulites, which are critical in understanding of the timing and tectonic processes involved in the assembly of the North China Craton.Most high-pressure mafic granulites in the Trans-North China Orogen preserve the high-pressure granulite facies assemblage garnet + plagioclase + clinopyroxene + quartz, the medium-pressure granulite facies assemblage garnet + plagioclase + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene ± quartz, the low-pressure granulite facies assemblage orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + plagioclase ± quartz, and the amphibolite facies assemblage hornblende + plagioclase. Minor high-pressure granulites preserve the early eclogite facies mineral assemblage of garnet + quartz + omphacite pseudomorph (clinopyroxene + Na-rich plagioclase), indicating that they are retrograded eclogites. These mineral assemblages and their P–T estimates define a clockwise P–T path involving near-isothermal decompression and cooling following the peak high-pressure metamorphism, which suggests that they formed during continent–continent collision. Field mapping and geochronology indicate that the precursors of these high-pressure granulites were mafic dykes which were emplaced at 1915 Ma and underwent high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism at 1.85 Ga. Taken together, the high-pressure granulites in the Trans-North China are considered to have resulted from final collision between the Eastern and Western Blocks to form the North China Craton at 1.85 Ga, not at 2.5 Ga as recently proposed by some authors.     

Palaeoproterozoic high-pressure granulite overprint of the Archean continental crust: evidence for homogeneous crustal thickening (Man Rise, Ivory Coast)

The character of mountain building processes in Palaeoproterozoic times is subject to much debate. Based on the discovery of high-pressure granulites in the Man Rise (Côte d'Ivoire), several authors have argued that Eburnean (Palaeoproterozoic) reworking of the Archean basement was achieved by modern-style thrust-dominated tectonics.
A mafic granulite of the Kouibli area (Archean part of the Man Rise, western Ivory Coast) displays a primary assemblage (M1) containing garnet, diopsidic clinopyroxene, red-brown pargasitic amphibole, plagioclase (andesine), rutile, ilmenite and quartz. This assemblage is associated with a subvertical regional foliation. Symplectites that developed at the expense of the M1 assemblage contain orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase (bytownite), green pargasitic amphibole, ilmenite and magnetite (M2). Multiequilibrium thermobarometric calculations and P–T pseudosections calculated with thermocalc suggest granulite facies conditions of ∼ 13 kbar, 850 °C and <7 kbar, 700–800 °C for M1 and M2, respectively. In agreement with the qualitative information obtained from reaction textures and chemical zoning of minerals, this suggests an evolution dominated by decompression accompanied by moderate cooling. A Sm–Nd garnet – whole-rock age of 2.03 Ga determined on this sample indicates that this evolution occurred during the Palaeoproterozoic. It is argued that from the geodynamic point of view the observed features are best explained by homogeneous thickening of the margin of the Archean craton, re-heated and softened due to the accretion of hot, juvenile Palaeoproterozoic crust, as well as coeval intrusion of juvenile magmas. Crustal shortening was mainly accommodated by transpressive shear zones and by lateral crustal spreading rather than large-scale thrust systems.     

安徽女山麻粒岩包体的地球化学特征:下地壳组成及其构造属性初探

女山麻粒岩包体的Mg#值总体较低（28－51），在化学成分上主要表现为偏中性，没有明显的辉石、石榴子石或Fe-Ti氧化物的堆晶作用，但部分有斜长石的堆晶作用，略具Eu,Sr正异常，部分则有斜长石的分离结晶，略具Eu,Sr负异常。另外，女山麻粒岩包体亏损Rb,Th,Nb,Ta,富集Ba,LREE,Zr,Hf等，具较高的Nb/Ta,Zr/Hf比值，麻粒岩相变质作用过程造成了Rb的强烈亏损，但对Nb,Ta,U,Th的影响较弱。女山麻粒岩包体的形成过程中存在岩浆的结晶分异作用，通过分离结晶混染作用模型（AFC）模拟，表明华北克拉通太古宙基性火山岩和中必一麻粒岩分别为较可能的初始岩浆和混合源，初始岩浆经过10％－40％的AFC可以形成女山麻粒岩包体的微量元素组成。总体上，女山麻粒岩包体的主元素、微量元素特征均相似于华北克拉通太古宙中性麻粒岩、华北克拉通下地壳平均值，而与扬子克拉通下地壳平均值得明显差别。因此女山地区下地壳可能仍属华北克拉通的一部分，因而支持Li(1994)的碰撞拆离模式。     

The formation of foliated (garnet-bearing) granites in the Tongbai-Dabie orogenic belt: partial melting of subducted continental crust during exhumation

Foliated (garnet-bearing) (FGB) granites are associated closely with and are usually the major wall rocks of the high-pressure (HP) and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks in the Tongbai-Dabie region, the mid segment of the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt in central China. These granites appear either as small plutons or as veins, which commonly intrude into or surround the HP and UHP metamorphic eclogites or gneisses. The veins of FGB granites usually penetrate into the retrograded eclogites or gneisses along the foliations. Condensation rims can occasionally be found along the margins of granite veins. These granites are rich in Si and alkali with high Ga/Al ratios, and depleted in Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, Sc, V, Ni, Co, Cr and Sr, which are similar to A-type granites. In a chondrite normalized diagram, the samples are light rare earth elements enriched with different extent of negative Eu anomaly. Moreover, Rb, Nb, Ta, Sr, P and Ti show different degrees of negative anomalies, whereas Ba, K, La, Zr and Hf show positive anomalies in the primitive mantle normalized diagram. Negative anomalies of Eu and Sr indicate strong influence of plagioclase. In conventional discrimination diagrams, these FGB granites belong to the A-type granite, with geochemical characteristics affinitive to post-collisional granites. The εNd (230 Ma) values (−15.80 to −2.52) and T _DM values (1.02–2.07 Ga) suggest that magma for the FGB granites were derived from a heterogeneous crustal source. Therefore, the FGB granites may provide clues for deciphering the formation of post-collisional granites. It is proposed that the magma of the FGB granites both in the HP and UHP units was formed in an extensional tectonic setting slightly post-dating the HP and UHP metamorphism, most likely as a result of decompressional partial melting of UHP retrograded eclogites during exhumation.     

新疆东天山尾亚地区低压麻粒岩相的特征

东天山尾亚火车站以西太古宙高级变质区亚西岭片麻岩套中赋存有高级变质岩—麻粒岩，它是新疆发现阿尔金山麻粒岩后的又一次重大发现，首次证实“天山中间隆起带”有古老地块的存在，这对研究新疆大地构造具有重大的地质意义。     

Geochronological and petrological constraints on Palaeoproterozoic granulite facies metamorphism in southeastern margin of the North China Craton

In the southeastern margin of the North China Craton, high-pressure (HP) granulite facies meta-basic rocks exposed as bands or lenses in the Precambrian metamorphic basement (e.g. Bengbu) and as xenoliths in Mesozoic intrusions (e.g. Jiagou) are characterized by the assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz + rutile ± Ti-rich hornblende. Cathodoluminescence imaging and mineral inclusions reveal that most zircon from the three dated samples displays distinct core-mantle-rim structures. The cores show typical igneous zircon characteristics and give ages of 2.5–2.4 Ga, thus dating the protolith of the metabasites. The mantles formed at granulite facies conditions as evidenced by inclusions of the HP granulite mineral assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene + rutile + plagioclase + quartz ± hornblende and Ti-rich biotite and yield ages of 1839 ± 31, 1811 ± 19 and 1800 ± 15 Ma. An inclusion-free rim yields an age of 176 ± 2 Ma with the lower Th/U ratio of 0.02. The geochronological and preliminary petrological data of this study suggest that the lower crust beneath the southeastern margin of the North China Craton formed at 2.5–2.4 Ga and underwent HP granulite facies metamorphism at c. 1.8 Ga. This HT-HP metamorphic event may be ascribed to large-scale crustal heating and thickening related to mantle-derived magma underplating at the base of the lower crust, as evidenced by widespread extension, rifting and related mafic magma emplacement in the North China Craton during this period. The age of 176 ± 2 Ma most likely records the late amphibolite facies retrogression occurring during exhumation.     

Deep in the Heart of Dixie: Pre-Alleghanian Eclogite and HP Granulite Metamorphism in the Carolina Terrane, South Carolina, USA

The central part of the Carolina terrane in western South Carolina comprises a 30 to 40 km wide zone of high grade gneisses that are distinct from greenschist facies metavolcanic rocks of the Carolina slate belt (to the SE) and amphibolite facies metavolcanic and metaplutonic rocks of the Charlotte belt (to the NW). This region, termed the Silverstreet domain, is characterized by penetratively deformed felsic gneisses, granitic gneisses, and amphibolites. Mineral assemblages and textures suggest that these rocks formed under high‐pressure metamorphic conditions, ranging from eclogite facies through high‐P granulite to upper amphibolite facies. Mafic rocks occur as amphibolite dykes, as metre‐scale blocks of coarse‐grained garnet‐clinopyroxene amphibolite in felsic gneiss, and as residual boulders in deeply weathered felsic gneiss. Inferred omphacite has been replaced by a vermicular symplectite of sodic plagioclase in diopside, consistent with decompression at moderate to high temperatures and a change from eclogite to granulite facies conditions. All samples have been partially or wholly retrograded to amphibolite assemblages. We infer the following P‐T‐t history: (1) eclogite facies P‐T conditions at ≥ 1.4 GPa, 650–730 °C (2) high‐P granulite facies P‐T conditions at 1.2–1.5 GPa, 700–800 °C (3) retrograde amphibolite facies P‐T conditions at 0.9–1.2 GPa and 720–660 °C. This metamorphic evolution must predate intrusion of the 415 Ma Newberry granite and must postdate formation of the Charlotte belt and Slate belt arcs (620 to 550 Ma). Comparison with other medium temperature eclogites and high pressure granulites suggests that these assemblages are most likely to form during collisional orogenesis. Eclogite and high‐P granulite facies metamorphism in the Silverstreet domain may coincide with a ≈570–535 Ma event documented in the western Charlotte belt or to a late Ordovician‐early Silurian event. The occurrence of these high‐P assemblages within the Carolina terrane implies that, prior to this event, the western Carolina terrane (Charlotte belt) and the eastern Carolina terrane (Carolina Slate belt) formed separate terranes. The collisional event represented by these high‐pressure assemblages implies amalgamation of these formerly separate terranes into a single composite terrane prior to its accretion to Laurentia.     

胶东莱西-平度一带早元古代麻粒岩相岩石的成因矿物学

本文研究胶东地区早元古代麻粒岩相岩石的辉石、角闪石、斜长石、方柱石、榍石、磁铁矿、钛铁矿等矿物及共生组合特征,以及与形成条件的关系。采用二辉石、角闪石-斜长石、斜方辉石-角闪石、单斜辉石-角闪石、铁-钛氧化物等地质温度计,估测了变质作用的温度和氧逸度。用单矿物(单斜辉石和角闪石)的成分特点及方柱石-斜长石共生关系估测了压力。综合分析确定,本区主期变质作用的温度为720—810℃,压力5kbar左右,氧逸度为10~(-15·5),则地热梯度为41—46℃/km,属于较低温的低压麻粒岩相。     

夹皮沟金矿区太古代麻粒岩相岩石的矿物学及其变质作用条件研究

本文对吉林夹皮沟金矿区太古代麻粒岩中斜长石、钾长石、单斜辉石、斜方辉石、黑云母、铁铁氧化物矿物、角闪石及石榴石等进行较系统的矿物学研究和电子探针分析,并运用一系列共生矿物地质温度计和压力计估算本区麻粒岩相变质作用的温度为800—850℃,压力为1.0—1.2GPa,氧逸度fo_2为10~(-5)—10~(-8)Pa,水分压p_((H_2)o)为43.6—128.8MPa(平均72.7MPa)。     

造山带中成对出现的高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩及其地球动力学意义

在一些典型碰撞造山带中,高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩在空间和时间上密切相关,它们之间的关系对揭示碰撞造山带的造山过程和造山机制具有重要意义.本文以中国西部的南阿尔金、柴北缘及中部的北秦岭造山带为例,详细陈述了这3个地区榴辉岩和相关的高压麻粒岩的野外关系、变质演化和形成时代,目的是要建立大陆碰撞造山带中榴辉岩和相关高压麻粒岩形成的地球动力学背景模式.南阿尔金榴辉岩呈近东西向分布在江尕勒萨依,玉石矿沟一带,与含夕线石副片麻岩、花岗质片麻岩和少量大理岩构成榴辉岩一片麻岩单元,榴辉岩中含有柯石英假象,其峰期变质条件为P=2.8～3.0GPa,T=730～850℃,并在抬升过程中经历了角闪岩-麻粒岩相的叠加;大量年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～500Ma.南阿尔金高压麻粒岩分布在巴什瓦克地区,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,它们与超基性岩构成了一个大约5km宽的构造岩石单元,与周围角闪岩相的片麻岩为韧性剪切带接触.长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的峰期组合均具有蓝晶石和三元长石(已变成条纹长石),形成的温压条件为T=930～1020℃,P=1.8～2.5GPa,并在退变质过程中经历了中压麻粒岩相变质作用叠加.锆石SHRIMP测定显示巴什瓦克高压麻粒岩的峰期变质时代为493～497Ma.都兰地区的榴辉岩分布柴北缘HP-UHP变质带的东端,在榴辉岩和围岩副片麻岩中均发现有柯石英保存,形成的峰期温压条件为T=670～730℃和P=2.7～3.25GPa,退变质阶段经过了角闪岩相的叠加;榴辉岩相变质时代为420～450Mao都兰地区的高压麻粒岩分布在阿尔茨托山西部,高压麻粒岩包括基性麻粒岩长英质麻粒岩,基性麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Pl±Ky±Zo+Rt±Qtz,长英质麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为：Grt+Kf+Ky+Pl+Qtz.峰期变质条件为T=800～925℃,P=1.4～1.85GPa,退变质阶段经历了角闪岩-绿片岩的改造,高压麻粒岩的变质时代为420～450Ma.北秦岭榴辉岩分布在官坡-双槐树一带,榴辉岩的峰期变质组合为Grt+Omp±Phe+Qtz+Rt,所计算的峰期温压条件为T=680～770℃和P=2.25～2.65GPa,年代学数据显示榴辉岩的变质时代为500Ma左右.北秦岭高压麻粒岩分布在含榴辉岩单元的南侧松树沟一带,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,与超基性岩在空间上密切伴生,高压麻粒岩的峰期温压条件为T=850～925℃,P=1.45～1.80GPa,锆石U-Pb年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～507Ma.以上三个实例显示,出现在同一造山带、在空间上伴生的高压麻粒岩和榴辉岩有各自不同的变质演化历史,但榴辉岩中的榴辉岩相变质时代和相邻的高压麻粒岩中的高压麻粒岩相变质作用时代相同或相近,这种成对出现的榴辉岩和高压麻粒岩代表了它们同时形成在造山带中不同的构造环境中,即榴辉岩的形成于大陆俯冲带中,而高压麻粒岩可能形成在俯冲带之上增厚的大陆地壳根部.