Fammenian–Tournaisian dextral ductile shear in the French Variscan belt

The South Armorican Shear Zone consists of a set of faults that runs across the southern Armorican Massif and extends eastwards to the Massif Central. One of its branches, the Cholet Shear Zone of South Brittany, can be correlated with the North-Millevaches–La Courtine Shear Zone in the Massif Central. It was active immediately after the regional Frasnian anatexis (372–368 Ma) as a right-lateral strike-slip fault. The horizontal offset, which can be estimated between 110 and 170 km, was achieved before the emplacement of non-deformed Late Tournaisian calc-alkaline and peraluminous granites (355–350 Ma). This newly established age of activity (Fammenian–Tournaisian) of the Cholet–La Courtine Shear Zone (CCSZ) has to be taken into account in geodynamical reconstructions of the Variscan belt of western Europe. To cite this article: C. Cartannaz et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Emplacement age for the mafic-ultramafic plutons in the northern Dabie Mts. (Hubei): Zircon U-Pb, Sm-Nd and 40Ar/39Ar dating

The protoliths of mafic-ultramafic plutons in the northern Dabie Mts. (NDM) (Hubei) include pyroxenite and gabbro. The zircon U-Pb dating for a gabbro suggests that emplacement of mafic magma took place in the post-collisional setting at the age of 122.9(0.6 Ma. It is difficult to obtain a reliable Sm-Nd isochron age, due to disequilibrium of the Sm-Nd isotopic system. Two hornblende 40Ar/39Ar ages of 116.1(1.1 Ma and 106.6(0.8 Ma may record cooling of metamorphism in the mafic-ultramafic plutons in Hubei below 500(C. The hornblende 40Ar/39Ar ages for the mafic-ultramafic rocks in Hubei are evidently 15-25 Ma younger than those for the same rocks in Anhui, indicating that there is a diversity of the cooling rates for the mafic-ultramafic rocks in Hubei and Anhui. The difference in their cooling rates may be controlled by the north-dipping normal faults in the NDM. The intense metamorphism occurring in the mafic-ultramafic rocks in Hubei may result from the Yanshanian magmatic reheating and thermal fluid action induced by the Cretaceous migmatization. The geochemical similarity of these mafic-ultramafic rocks wherever in Hubei and Anhui may be attributed to the same tectonic setting via an identical genetic mechanism.     

Use of magnetic susceptibility, density, and modal mineral data as a guide to the composition of granitic plutons

Magnetic susceptibility, density, modal mineral, and whole rock geochemical data have been collected from two granitic plutons in Quebec. Each of the first three variables is correlated with SiO₂ to some degree. Multiple regression using all three variables simultaneously as independent variables and SiO₂ as a dependent variable yielded pluton dependent equations which were then used to calculate SiO₂ values for each analysis. Calculated values of SiO₂ typically differ from the analysed values by 1.5% for the first pluton and 1.0% for the second. The polynomials thus can be used to estimate the SiO₂ value of unanalyzed samples with some confidence. Plots of calculated SiO₂ reveal details of chemical variation with the pluton which were not observed when using chemical data alone due to the small number of analyzed rocks. The method also provides an independent evaluation of possible analytical errors.     

A-type granites induced by a breaking-off and delamination of the subducted Junggar oceanic plate,West Junggar,Northwest China

The A-type granites with highly positive ε_Nd(t) values in the West Junggar, Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), have long been perceived as a group formed under the same tectonic and geodynamic setting, magmatic sourceq and petrogenetic model. Geological evidence shows that these granites occurred at two different tectonic units related to the southeastern subduction of Junggar oceanic plate: the Hongshan and Karamay granites emplaced in the southeast of West Junggar in the Baogutu continental arc; whereas the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites formed in the accretionary prism. Here the authors present new bulk-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotopes, zircon U-Pb ages and Hf-O isotopes data on these granites. The granites in the Baogutu continental arc and accretionary prism contain similar zircon ε_Hf(t) values (+10.9 to +16.2) and bulk-rock geochemical characteristics (high SiO₂ and K₂O contents, enriched LILEs (except Sr), depleted Sr, Ta and Ti, and negative anomalies in Ce and Eu). The Hongshan and Karamay granites in the Baogutu continental arc have older zircon U-Pb ages (315–305 Ma) and moderate ¹⁸O enrichments (δ¹⁸O_zircon=+6.41‰–+7.96‰); whereas the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites in the accretionary prism have younger zircon U-Pb ages (305–301 Ma) with higher ¹⁸O enrichments (δ¹⁸O_zircon=+8.72‰–+9.89‰). The authors deduce that the elevated ¹⁸O enrichments of the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites were probably inherited from low-temperature altered oceanic crusts. The Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites were originated from partial melting of low-temperature altered oceanic crusts with juvenile oceanic sediments below the accretionary prism. The Hongshan and Karamay granites were mainly derived from partial melting of basaltic juvenile lower crust with mixtures of potentially chemical weathered ancient crustal residues and mantle basaltic melt (induced by hot intruding mantle basaltic magma at the bottom of the Baogutu continental arc). On the other hand, the Miaoergou charnockite might be sourced from a deeper partial melting reservoir under the accretionary prism, consisting of the low-temperature altered oceanic crust, juvenile oceanic sediments, and mantle basaltic melt. These granites could be related to the asthenosphere’s counterflow and upwelling, caused by the break-off and delamination of the subducted oceanic plate beneath the accretionary prism Baogutu continental arc in a post-collisional tectonic setting.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Petrogenesis and metallogenic implications for the Machang,Huangdaoshan, and Tuncang plutons in eastern Anhui: an integrated age,petrologic, and geochemical study

ABSTRACT

The Tuncang–Chuzhou–Machang area (eastern Anhui province) is geologically located in the intersection between the Yangtze block and the Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. Many Mesozoic plutons outcrop in this district that are Cu–Au prospective but inadequately studied. We report new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb ages, petrologic, and whole rock geochemical data for three representative plutons at Machang, Huangdaoshan, and Tuncang. New dating results suggest that all the Machang (129.3 ± 1.6 Ma), Huangdaoshan (129 ± 1.7 Ma), and Tuncang (130.8 ± 1.9 Ma) plutons were emplaced in the Early Cretaceous, slightly older than other plutons in neighbourhood of the Zhangbaling uplift. The three plutons contain typical low-Mg adakitic affinities, in which the rocks contain SiO₂ >56%, Al₂O₃ ≥15%, Mg# <53, elevated Sr, Ba, Cr, Ni, Sr/Y, and La/Yb, low Y and Yb and no discernible Eu anomaly. Their petrogenesis may have been related to the delamination and partial melting of the lower crust, which is different from the Chuzhou pluton, which was interpreted to have formed by partial melting of the subducted slabs. We suggest that this petrogenetic difference may explain why the pluton at Chuzhou is Cu–Au fertile, whereas those at Machang, Huangdaoshan, and Tuncang are largely barren. It is proposed that adakitic plutons formed by partial melting of the subducted slabs have high metallogenetic potentiality in the area.     

Nested plutons as megageopetal structures: The Merrimac plutons,northern Sierra Nevada,California

Contacts within nested plutons are crucial for constraining the relative timing of pluton emplacement and the internal geometry of composite plutons. Exposures in orogenic belts are commonly discontinuous, however, disguising these contacts. In this paper, the Merrimac plutons in the northern Sierra Nevada of California are used as an example of how composition and foliation patterns can allow the definition of unexposed contacts and identify nested plutons. Image analysis techniques were used to determine modal compositions of a total of 52 samples from the Merrimac plutons. The integrated analysis of compositional data and foliations patterns reveals a critical contact within the plutons, and suggests that the Merrimac plutons indicate way-up towards the north-east at the time of emplacement 142 ± 3 Ma ago. This paper provides guidelines for recognizing nested plutons in poorly exposed areas and shows that consistent structural and compositional assymmetries within nested plutons can be used as regional top-direction indicators.     

藏北阿翁错复式岩体及其暗色微粒包体年龄、地球化学与地球动力学意义

对班公湖-怒江缝合带西段阿翁错复式岩体及其暗色微粒包体开展了岩石学、全岩地球化学及同位素年龄研究。结果表明,阿翁错复式岩体中出露大量闪长质暗色微粒包体,包体具典型的火成结构,发育针状磷灰石。寄主岩与包体均为准铝质、高钾钙碱性-钾玄岩系列过渡岩石,主要氧化物含量在Harker图解上具有良好的线性关系,稀土元素配分曲线和微量元素原始地幔标准化蛛网图具有高度的一致性,表明二者具有强烈的地球化学亲源关系,且经历了相似的岩浆演化过程;主量、微量元素同分母协变图中包体和寄主岩表现为良好的线性关系,表明二者之间的演化与岩浆混合作用关系密切;包体的原始岩浆可能来源于受俯冲带流体交代的地幔楔,寄主岩为幔源岩浆与熔融下地壳岩浆混合的产物,以熔融下地壳岩浆为主。寄主岩和暗色微粒包体的成岩年龄分别为109.1±1.0Ma和107.4±0.7Ma,显示岩浆混合作用发生在早白垩世。结合班公湖-怒江缝合带的演化及构造判别,认为阿翁错复式岩体形成于班公湖-怒江特提斯洋软碰撞阶段,为受俯冲带流体交代的地幔楔上升与其诱发的下地壳花岗质岩浆混合作用的产物。     

冀北闪长质岩石的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄：晚古生代岩浆弧的地质记录

华北克拉通北缘的丰宁-承德地区分布着许多被认为是古元古代的片麻状闪长质-石英闪长质-花岗闪长质侵入体,新的年代学资料揭示这些侵入体中许多是晚古生代的产物。本次工作从京北喇叭沟门闪长岩体和丰宁天桥含石英闪长岩体中分别获得了(288.0±4.8)Ma和(279.5±5.6)Ma的锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄。这些钙碱性岩石的存在表明华北克拉通北缘在早二叠世是一条安第斯型的活动大陆边缘。综合分析冀北地区晚古生代侵入岩的侵位时代和变形特点,结合该地区晚古生代发生变形变质作用的年龄信息,推测华北克拉通北侧的古亚洲洋在晚二叠世末封闭,随后进入了主造山期之后的构造松弛阶段。     

宁陕断裂带韧性剪切变形终点——来自龙脖子剪切带活动时代的限定

南秦岭宁陕断裂镇安段北缘的龙脖子剪切带记录了宁陕断裂带左行走滑韧性剪切变形过程。带内3类石英脉体和方解石脉体的ESR年龄分别为125.6～88.7Ma、56.7～32.9Ma和19.8～14.6Ma。其中第一类产出于构造片理和A型褶皱核部的石英脉体,代表左行走滑韧性剪切变形结束、脆性构造活跃的时代。研究表明,宁陕左行走滑剪切带在晚三叠世早期开始活动,且可能持续到早—中侏罗世。第一类脉体年龄的确定表明,宁陕断裂带左行走滑韧性剪切变形最晚可持续到早白垩世;晚白垩世—始新世,宁陕断裂带以伸展-走滑脆性或韧-脆性剪切变形为主。因此,早白垩世是宁陕断裂带韧性剪切变形向脆性剪切变形转换的关键时期。宁陕断裂带经历了晚三叠世—中侏罗世晚期快速冷却阶段、晚侏罗世—白垩纪缓慢冷却阶段和古近纪以来快速冷却阶段。宁陕断裂带在缓慢冷却晚期(早白垩世)实现韧性剪切变形向脆性剪切变形转换说明,早白垩世也是秦岭造山带陆内变形机制转变的关键时期。     

班公湖-怒江缝合带西段阿翁错复式岩体的岩浆混合成因:地球化学、年代学和暗色微粒包体证据

阿翁错复式岩体位于班公湖-怒江缝合带西段,是班公湖-怒江特提斯洋俯冲消减,造山过程中岩浆响应的重要组成部分,以广泛发育暗色微粒包体和岩浆混合、不协调现象为特征。本文以阿翁错复式岩体为研究对象,对寄主岩和暗色微粒包体开展了系统的地质学、地球化学和锆石U-Pb年代学研究,探讨了阿翁错复式岩体的岩浆混合成因。暗色微粒包体塑性变形特征明显,与寄主岩呈截然或渐变接触,偶见反向脉发育,包体具细-中粗粒结构,含斜长石、钾长石、角闪石、暗色镶边石英等斑晶,偶见角闪石斑晶横跨包体和寄主岩,在包体及包体周围寄主岩中见长柱状斜长石、角闪石和针状磷灰石等结构特征,表明暗色微粒包体为岩浆混合作用的产物。寄主岩与包体均为准铝质、钙碱性-高钾钙碱性系列岩石,主要氧化物含量在Harker图解上具有良好的线性关系,稀土元素配分曲线图和微量元素蛛网图具有高度一致性,表明二者具有强烈的地球化学亲源关系,且经历了相似的岩浆演化过程。寄主岩和暗色微粒包体的成岩年龄分别为109. 1±1. 0Ma和107. 4±0. 7Ma,岩浆混合作用发生在早白垩世晚期,处于班公湖-怒江特提斯洋由弧-陆碰撞向陆陆碰撞的转换阶段即软碰撞阶段。研究表明,在班公湖-怒江特提斯洋向北向羌塘地块之下俯冲的背景下,洋壳脱水,引起上覆地幔楔发生部分熔融,形成镁铁质岩浆,镁铁质岩浆向上运移,并底侵于壳-幔边界,引发下地壳物质发生部分熔融,形成长英质岩浆,当镁铁质岩浆从底部注入长英质岩浆房时,镁铁质岩浆快速冷凝,形成部分色率高、粒度细,具冷凝边的包体,与寄主岩呈截然型接触,随着端元岩浆之间的温差逐渐降低,包体色率降低,粒度变大,与寄主岩呈渐变过渡。