Variscan Sm-Nd and Ar-Ar ages of eclogite facies rocks from the Erzgebirge, Bohemian Massif

Abstract The Erzgebirge Crystalline Complex (ECC) is a rare example where both‘crustal’eclogites and mantle-derived garnet-bearing ultramafic rocks (GBUs) occur in the same tectonic unit. Thus, the ECC represents a key complex for studying tectonic processes such as crustal thickening or incorporation of mantle-derived material into the continental crust. This study provides the first evidence that high-pressure metamorphism in the ECC is of Variscan age. Sm-Nd isochrons define ages of 333 ± 6 (Grt-WR), 337± 5 (Grt-WR), 360± 7 (Grt-Cpx-WR) (eclogites) and 353 ± 7 Ma (Grt-WR) (garnet-pyroxenite). ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar spectra of phengite from two eclogite samples give plateau ages of 348 ± 2 and 355 ± 2 Ma. The overlap of ages from isotopic systems with blocking temperatures that differ by about 300 ° C indicates extremely fast tectonic uplift rates. Minimum cooling rates were about 50° C Myr-¹. As a consequence, the closure temperature of the specific isotopic system is of minor importance, and the ages correspond to the time of high-pressure metamorphism. Despite textural equilibrium and metamorphic temperatures in excess of 800° C, clinopyroxene, garnet and whole rock do not define a three-point isochron in three of four samples. The metamorphic clinopyroxenes seem to have inherited their isotopic signature from magmatic precursors. Rapid tectonic burial and uplift within only a few million years might be the reason for the observed Sm-Nd disequilibrium. The ε_Nd values of the eclogites (+4.4 to +6.9) suggest the protoliths were derived from a long-term depleted mantle, probably a MORB source, whereas the isotopically enriched garnet-pyroxenite (ε_Nd–2.9) might represent subcontinental mantle material, emplaced into the crust prior to or during collision. The similarity of ages of the two different rock types suggests a shared metamorphic history.     

Geochemical signatures of Variscan eclogites from the Saxonian Erzgebirge, central Europe

From the abundant metre to km-sized eclogite bodies in the Variscan crystalline complex of the Saxonian Erzgebirge we have investigated 19 samples from the ultrahigh pressure area at the Saidenbach reservoir. Twenty-two samples were from the south-western Erzgebirge, and from occurrences located only some km away from the reservoir. These samples were analysed for major and trace elements using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).The non-Saidenbach eclogites (SiO₂=49–53 wt%) can be derived from N-mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) partially transitional to P-MORBs (e.g., (Nb)_N: 3–36; (Sr)_N: 4–17; (La/Sm)_N<1.5 (in most instances <0.7) and (Sm/Yb)_N around 1.2). Eclogites from the Saidenbach reservoir (SiO₂=49–61 wt%) are characterised by (Nb)_N: 20–170; (Sr)_N: 9–43; (La/Sm)_N: 1.2–3.0; (Sm/Yb)_N: 1.4–8.8, and a clear negative Eu anomaly for the Si-rich samples, thus, being significantly different from the other investigated eclogites. These signatures point to protoliths related to within plate igneous rocks. However, we also discuss the possibilities of (1) protoliths related to a magmatic arc along an active continental margin and (2) the formation by melting of crustal material in the deep mantle and final crystallisation in the lowermost continental crust similar to the adjacent diamondiferous quartzofeldspathic rocks.Due to the specific geochemical signatures of eclogites in the Saidenbach area including other facts, this ultrahigh pressure region is believed to represent a section of lowermost crust not outcropping in other portions of the Saxonian Erzgebirge.     

Dating multiply overprinted Sn-mineralized granites—examples from the Erzgebirge,Germany

Granites and primary tin mineralization in the Erzgebirge were dated using (1) conventional U–Pb dating of uraninite inclusions in mica, (2) Rb–Sr dating of inclusions in quartz that represent highly evolved melts, (3) Re–Os dating of magmatic–hydrothermal molybdenite, and (4) chemical Th–U–Pb dating of uraninite. Conventional isotope dilution and thermal ion mass spectrometry and chemical Th–U–Pb dating of uraninite in granites from the Ehrenfriedersdorf mining district provide ages of 323.9 ± 3.5 Ma (2σ; Greifenstein granite) and 320.6 ± 1.9 and 319.7 ± 3.4 Ma (2σ, both Sauberg mine), in agreement with U–Pb apatite ages of 323.9 ± 2.9 and 317.3 ± 1.6 Ms (2σ, both Sauberg mine). Rb–Sr analysis of melt inclusions from Zinnwald gives highly radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions that, with an assumed initial Sr isotopic composition, permit calculation of precise ages from single inclusions. The scatter of the data indicates that some quartz-hosted melt inclusions have been affected by partial loss of fluid exsolved from the melt inclusion. Re–Os dating of two molybdenite samples from Altenberg provides ages of 323.9 ± 2.5 and 317.9 ± 2.4 Ma (2σ). Together with age data from the literature, our new ages demonstrate that primary tin mineralization and the emplacement of the large Sn-specialized granites in the Erzgebirge fall in a narrow range between 318 and 323 Ma. Primary Sn mineralization occurred within a short interval during post-collisional collapse of the Variscan orogen and was essentially synchronous over the entire Erzgebirge. In contrast to earlier claims, no systematic age difference between granites of the eastern and western Erzgebirge was established. Furthermore, our data do not support a large age range for Late-Variscan granites of the Erzgebirge (330–290 Ma), as has been previously suggested.     

Composition and origin of intermediate solid solutions in the system thorite–xenotime–zircon–coffinite

A comprehensive survey of the accessory-mineral assemblages in Variscan granites of the German Erzgebirge and Pan-African granites from Jordan revealed the occurrence of intermediate solid solutions of the tetragonal thorite–xenotime–zircon–coffinite mineral group with partially novel compositions. These solid solutions preferentially formed in evolved and metasomatically altered, P-poor leucogranites of either I- or A-type affinity. Thorite from the Erzgebirge contained up to 18.8 wt.% Y₂O₃, 16.1 wt.% ZrO₂, and 23.3 wt.% UO₂. Xenotime and zircon have incorporated Th in abundances up to 36.3 wt.% and 41.8 wt.% ThO₂, respectively. Extended compositional gradation with only minor gaps is confined to hydrated members of this mineral group, and is observed to exist between thorite and xenotime, thorite and coffinite, and Y–HREE-bearing thorite and zircon. Complex, hydrous solid solutions containing elevated abundances of three or more of the endmembers are subordinate. Previously reported intermediate solid solutions between anhydrous zircon and xenotime, and anhydrous zircon and thorite, are not observed and are in conflict with experimental work demonstrating very limited miscibility between anhydrous species of endmember composition. The majority of hydrous intermediate solid solutions in the Th–Y–Zr–U system are likely thermodynamically unstable. Instead, they are probably metastable responses to unusual physico-chemical conditions involving various parameters and conditions, the relative importance of which is incompletely known. Leaching and dissolution of preexisting accessory phases during interaction with F-bearing hydrous fluids enriched in Th, Y(HREE), Zr, and/or U, and common deposition of the various elements at disequilibrium (supersaturation) seems to play a key role, but other processes may be of similar importance. Experimental work involving hydrous conditions and complex systems composed of more than two endmembers are needed to shed light into the stability relations of the chemically uncommon compositions treated in this study.     

Raman spectra of polycrystalline microdiamond inclusions in zircons,and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism of a quartzofeldspathic rock from the Erzgebirge terrane,Germany

ABSTRACT

Polycrystalline microdiamonds are rare in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks worldwide. Among samples collected at Erzgebirge, Germany, we found abundant polycrystalline microdiamonds as inclusions in zircons from a quartzofeldspathic rock. To illuminate their origin and forming age, we investigated morphologies and Raman spectra of 52 microdiamond inclusions, and dated the zircon host. The zircons have low Th/U values (0.03–0.07) and a concordia U/Pb age of 335.8 ± 1.9 Ma. Polycrystalline diamond (10–40 µm) consists of many fine-grained crystals (1.5–3 µm) with different orientations; discrete single diamonds (2–20 µm) are rare. All measured Raman spectra show an intense diamond band at 1332–1328 cm^?1 and have a negative correlation with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 5.8–11.3 cm^?1. These data combined with previously reported diamond band data (1331–1337 cm^?1) are compatible with those of diamond inclusions in various host minerals from other UHP terranes, but are different from those of ureilite diamonds. The Erzgebirge microdiamonds in zircon do not display visible disordered sp³-carbon, but show downshifting of the Raman band from the ideal value (1332 cm^?1), and have a broader diamond band (FWHM >3 cm^?1) than those of well-ordered diamonds. These features may reflect imperfect ordering due to rapid nucleation/crystallization during UHP metamorphism and rapid exhumation of the UHP terrane. Graphite inclusions in zircon show a typical G-band at 1587 cm^?1. Our study together with previously reported C-isotopic compositions (δ¹³C, ?17 to ?27‰) of diamond and occurrences of fluid/melt inclusions in diamond and garnet indicates that Erzgebirge microdiamonds are metamorphic, have an organic carbon source, and crystallized from aqueous fluids. Limited long-range ordering suggested by the Raman spectra is a function of the P–T time of crystallization and subsequent thermal annealing on decompression. Combined with regional geology, our work further constrains the tectonic evolution of the Erzgebirge terrane.     

Quartz chemistry – A step to understanding magmatic-hydrothermal processes in ore-bearing granites: Cínovec/Zinnwald Sn-W-Li deposit,Central Europe

Quartz from granites, greisens and quartz veins from a 1596 m long vertical section through the Cínovec/Zinnwald Li-Sn-W deposit (Czech Republic) was studied using cathodoluminescence (CL) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP MS). The trace contents of Al, Ti, Li and the Ge/Ti and Al/Ti values in quartz reflect the degree of fractionation of parental melt from which primary quartz crystallized. From the biotite granite to the younger zinnwaldite granite, quartz is characterized by increasing contents of Al (from 136–176 to 240–280 ppm) and decreasing Ti (from 16–54 to 6–14 ppm), while the contents of Li and Ge are similar (15–36 and 0.8–1.7 ppm, respectively). Quartz of the greisen stage and vein stage is poor in all measured elements (26–59 ppm Al, 0.5–1.6 ppm Ti, 2–13 ppm Li, 0.8–1.6 ppm Ge). The youngest low-temperature quartz forming thin coatings in vugs in greisen and veins differs in its extreme enrichment in Al (>1000 ppm) and Li (∼100 ppm) and very low Ti (<1 ppm). Within the greisen, remnants of primary magmatic quartz should be distinguished from metasomatic greisen-stage quartz in their higher intensity of CL and relatively higher Ti contents. A part of primary magmatic quartz may by secondarily purified via infiltration of hydrothermal fluids and dissolution–reprecipitation processes. Such quartz parallels newly formed greisen-stage quartz in its chemical and CL properties; the share of greisen-stage quartz may by therefore overestimated.     

德国的厄尔士山脉——北冈瓦纳的俯冲部分:在变质逆冲单元中重现早古生代变质沉积层序的地球化学证据

作为波希米亚地块的一个主要变质地体，厄尔士山脉记录了风瓦纳古生代边缘的储冲部分。低绿片岩到变粒岩相变质作用的不同质单元的非钙质沉积物的地球化学研究支持了近来建立的逆冲模式，厄尔士山脉变质沉积物的地球化学识别和对比表明在变质逆冲单元中重现了早古生代变质沉积层序。这个新发现与变质流纹岩夹层的最新放射性测年结果相一致，放射性测年值为480Ma左右。此外，与图林根低级变质标准剖面的对比也支持了这种观点。图林根剖面具有较高成熟度的沉积物，代表从造山带过渡到被动边缘环境。还识别出至少在厄尔士山脉的三个变质单元中再现的三种不同的岩石类型的重要地球化学特征。通过使用平均值的简单对比和统计学方法，建立了这些单元的地球化学对比模式。变质岩组不同岩类的重要地球化学特征对地形分析和古构造背景建具有重要意义。前进变质单元中的岩性恢复及其不同的化学成分可用来研究在巴罗型变质作用中元素的活动性。统计对比显示，从绿片岩到角闪岩相Li逐渐减少，而Ca则少量富集，其它被研究的元素均是不活动的。     

Latest precambrian (Cadomian) zircon ages,Nd isotopic systematics and P-T evolution of granitoid orthogneisses of the Erzgebirge,Saxony and Czech Republic

Single zircons from two orthogneiss complexes, the Grey Gneiss and Red Gneiss, the lowermost tectonic units in the Erzgebirge, were dated. The grey Freiberg Gneiss is of igneous origin and has a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb emplacement age of 550±7 Ma. A quartz monzonite from Lauenstein contains idiomorphic zircons with a mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age of 555±7 Ma as well as xenocrysts ranging in age between 850 and 1910 Ma. Red gneisses from the central Erzgebirge contain complex zircon populations, including numerous xenocrysts up to 2464 Ma in age. The youngest, idiomorphic, zircons in all samples yielded uniform ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 550±9 and 554±10 Ma. Nd isotopic data support the interpretation of crustal anatexis for the origin of both units. _Nd(t) values for the grey gneisses are –7.5 and –6.0 respectively, (mean crustal residence ages of 1.7–1.8 Ga). The red gneisses have a wider range in _Nd(t) values from –7.7 to –2.8 (T _DM ages of 1.4–1.8 Ga). The zircon ages document a distinct late Proterozoic phase of granitoid magmatism, similar in age to granitoids in the Lusatian block farther north-east. However, Palaeozoic deformation as well as medium pressure metamorphism ( 8 kbar/600–650° C) are identical in both gneiss units and distinguish these rocks from the Lusatian granitoids. The grey and red gneisses were overthrust by units with abundant high-pressure relicts and a contrasting P-T evolution. Zircon xenocryst and Nd model ages in the range 1000–1700 Ma are similar to those in granitoid rocks of Lusatia and the West-Sudetes, and document a pre-Cadomian basement in parts of east-central Europe that, chronologically, has similarities with the Sveconorwegian domain in the Baltic Shield.     

Zircon ages,geochemistry, and Nd isotopic systematics of pre-Variscan orthogneisses from the Erzgebirge,Saxony (Germany), and geodynamic interpretation

High grade granitoid orthogneisses occur in several metamorphic units of the Erzgebirge in the Saxothuringian Zone of the Variscan Belt. The determination of protolith ages and the geochemical characterization of these rocks permit a reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic magmatic and geodynamic history of the Erzgebirge. Single zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and SHRIMP ages combined with major and trace element data and Sm-Nd isotope systematics indicate at least two discrete magmatic events concealed in the so-called red gneisses, one at ~550 Ma in rocks of the medium pressure—medium temperature (MP-MT) unit and the other at ~500–480 Ma in rocks of the high pressure units. The transition zones comprise both Neoproterozoic granitoids and early Palaeozoic metarhyolites. The granitoid gneisses represent Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline granitoids with REE patterns similar to those produced in Andean-type continental margins. The early Palaeozoic muscovite gneisses are geochemically distinct from the older granitoids and may be derived from melts generated in a back-arc setting. Initial _Nd values in all samples overlap and range from –4.1 to –9.2, corresponding to crustal sources with average residence times of 1.5 to 1.9 Ga. Zircon xenocryst ages as old as 2992 Ma provide evidence for Grenvillian, Svecofennian-Birimian-Aazonian and older age components and suggest an association of the Erzgebirge with Avalonia.B. Mingram and A. Kröner have shared senior authorship