Middle and Late Carboniferous extension In the Variscan Belt: structural and petrological evidences from the Vosges massif (Eastern France)

Abstract

In the Moldanubian domain of the Vosges massif (INK France) euperimposition of three distinct crustal units has been attributed to Middle to Late Carboniferous thrusting. Л kinematic analysis of mierostuetures within each unit suggests that extension, following the formation of a Stack of nappes, is actually responsible for the bulk structure of this region. In order to estimate the related exhumation, the temperature and pressure evolution of the lowermost unit is investigated. It is characterised by (i) a prograde evolution within the stability field of kyanite, followed by (ii) a syn-kinematic, 3-4 kbar, near-isothermal decompression before (iii) cooling. Thermal modeling shows that the isothermal decompression may be related to rapid exhumation (> I mm.a^-1), which cannot be accounted for by erosion alone. Therefore, exhumation is best explained by extensional processes, possibly related to gravitational collapse of a thickened crust.     

The structural evolution of the Asinara Island (NW Sardinia,Italy)

The metamorphic basement of the Asinara island represents a key area of the Sardinia Variscan segment, because it displays an almost complete cross-section through the inner part of the Sardinia Variscan belt, where different tectono-metamorphic complexes have been juxtaposed along narrow belts of high-strain concentration. Detailed field mapping coupled with preliminary studies on the structural and metamorphic features of this small island, allow to draw a better picture of the structural frame issued from the Variscan collision in the inner zone of the belt. Three deformation phases related to crustal thickening in a compressive and transpressive, partitioned tectonic regime, followed by a later phase of extensional deformation have been recognised. In spite of a general HT/LP metamorphic overprint, linked to the post-collisional deformation phases, a relic Barrovian zoneography is still detectable. The Barrovian assemblages are preto syn-kinematic with respect to the D2 deformation phase, and pre-date the third, contractional tectonic event.

The HT/LP assemblage indicates a static growth of weakly deformed by the last deformation events. The complex geometry of the fabric associated to the D2 and D3 deformation events suggests an heterogenous deformation history with a monoclinic geometry characterized by switching of the stretching lineation orientation and a contrasting sense of displacement, probably controlled by a northward partitioned pure shear.     

Late Variscan “Basin and Range” magmatism and tectonics in the Central Alps: evidence from U-Pb geochronology

Abstract

Towards the end of the Variscan orogeny, volcano-sedimentary basins were formed within the mountain hell. U-Pb age determinations on zircons of volcanic and plutonic rocks from intramontane basins of the Central Alps allows us to define the age of two volcano-sedimentary units: The former one was dated older than 333 Ma (probably Visean), the younger one was deposited in a short time span between 303 and 298 Ma (Stephanien). The latter contains tuffs (303 ± 4 Ma), ignimbrites and microgranites (299 ± 2 Ma) and intrusive rhyolites (300 ± 2 Ma) that are all coeval within analytical precision. Granitoid rocks intruded into the volcano-sedimentary rocks at 333 ± 2 Ma, 310 ± 3 Ma and 298 ± 2 Ma. An angular unconformity between the older and the younger units in the Tö di area (Aar massif) indicates uplift and erosion between 310 and 303 Ma.

Our results suggest the existence of two periods of late Variscan extension (or transtension) in the Alpine realm, both combined with magmatic activity. The extensional event of Stephaniun age is characterized by a short duration of only a few million years, between 303 and 298 Ma, comprising tectonic activity, volcanism and plutonism. The plutonic rocks are characterized by a dominant lithospheric mantle component, which was contaminated by different amounts of crostai material and might have been increasingly influenced by aslhcnos-pherie mantle melts in the course of crostai thinning. The ealc-alkaline geochemical characteristics of the granites may be explained as an inherited source feature.

The overall tectonic style and the mode of magmatism resembles the situation of the Basin-and-Kange Province (eastern USA). Consequently there is no need to invoke a late-Variscan Andean-type subduction to explain the geochemical composition of the magmatic rocks. We conclude that late-orogenic extension is an important tectonic stage of the Variscan orogeny, which lasted for some 50 million years. The extension led to thinning of the crust and upwelling of hot mantle, causing high heat flow, intrusion of mantle melts and formation of huge volumes of acid melts.     

Variscan plate dynamics in the circum-carpathian area

Abstract

Magmatic and metamorphic events, imprinted in the crystalline rocks of the so-called core mountains inside the Alpine structure of the Inner Carpathians, allow the re-construction of the history of the Rheic Ocean opening, its development and its final closure. Intra-Carpathian core-mountains are the remnants of the continents that drifted away from Gondwana and docked, initially, with Baltica as part of Avalonia and later on as parts of the Gondwana-derived Armorica Terrane Group or as a separate micro-continent.

All magmatic suites, mafic and felsic, present in the Carpathians core mountains, show similarities to those found in the European Variscan Belt. All described- and dated metamorphic and magmatic events also have equivalents in the evolution of the Caledonian-Variscan Belts of Europe. The most pronounced feature of all Carpathian core mountains is the syn-collisional, multistage I/S granitoid magmatism (370-340 Ma) related to subduction, mafic-magma influx, extensional decompression and slab melting. That episode marked the Laurussia - Gondwana collision and closure of the Rheic Ocean, as in the whole of Central and Western Europe.

The Carpathian core-mountains, currently dispersed inside the Alpine mountain chain, can be considered the broken fragments of the eastern prolongation of the Variscan orogenic belts – possibly part of the Moldanubian Unit.     

江西省峡江铀矿床两期印支期花岗岩的年代学、岩石地球化学和岩石成因——对华南印支期构造背景和产铀花岗岩成因的指示

位于江西省的峡江铀矿床为华南一个典型的花岗岩型铀矿床,铀矿体产在金滩花岗岩体中。野外地质调查和锆石U-Pb同位素定年工作表明金滩花岗岩体主要由两期的印支期花岗岩组成,其中含矿的等粒状二云母花岗岩形成于239±1Ma,而主体的斑状黑云母花岗岩则形成于226±2Ma。二云母花岗岩具有较高的SiO₂含量（74.09%~74.53%）和明显低的TiO₂、CaO和MgO含量,铝饱和指数为1.20~1.46,含有白云母和石榴子石等过铝质矿物,属于典型的强过铝S型花岗岩。斑状黑云母花岗岩的地球化学特征略微不同于二云母花岗岩,相对富集高场强元素和稀土元素,具有明显更低的Rb/Sr比值以及更小的Eu负异常,铝饱和指数变化为1.05~1.13,属于弱过铝到强过铝花岗岩。同位素组成上,两者都具有较低的ε_Nd（t）值（二云母花岗岩：-9.0~-8.8;斑状黑云母二长花岗岩：-9.8~-9.4）和古元古代的模式年龄（二云母花岗岩：1.73~1.75Ga;斑状黑云母二长花岗岩：1.77~1.80Ga）。地球化学和同位素特征表明金滩岩体中的这两期印支期花岗岩应该都为S型花岗岩。较高的Rb/Sr比值和较低的CaO/Na₂O比值表明二云母花岗岩主要由富粘土的泥质沉积岩部分熔融而来,而斑状黑云母二长花岗岩则主要由贫粘土的碎屑沉积岩部分熔融而来。金滩岩体中的两期印支期花岗岩分别对应于华南印支期同碰撞挤压和碰撞后伸展期的岩浆作用。二云母花岗岩含有更高的U含量,矿物学以及地球化学特征与华南其他的典型产铀花岗岩类似。对比研究表明,华南印支期产铀花岗岩的形成应与同碰撞期挤压背景下的泥质沉积岩的部分熔融有关。     

纳米比亚欢乐谷地区斑状花岗岩成因及构造背景

对纳米比亚欢乐谷地区斑状花岗岩进行系统的地球化学及 Sr--Nd 同位素研究,并对其岩石成因及构造意义进行了讨论。结果表明,该斑状花岗岩为高钾钙碱性-钾玄岩系列的准铝质花岗岩; 岩石富碱、轻稀土和 Ｒb、Th、U、K、Pb 等大离子亲石元素,贫 Nb、Ta、Ti、Zr、Hf 等高场强元素,具有中等铕负异常。岩石锶初始值为 0. 715 61 ～0. 722 07,εNd( t) 为 －13. 9 ～ －12. 7,Nd 同位素模式年龄为2 025 ～2 153 Ma。揭示欢乐谷地区斑状花岗岩为同碰撞 S 型花岗岩,主要来源于古老地壳物质的重熔,是 Kalahari 克拉通和 Congo 克拉通碰撞造山的产物。     

南岭地区钨矿床共（伴）生金属特征及其地质意义初探

南岭是世界上最重要的钨矿产地,南岭钨矿床中与钨共（伴）生的有色、稀有及贵金属种类很多,数量可观,也是我国重要的矿产资源。论述了南岭及其邻近地区众多钨矿床中与钨共生或伴生的锡、钼、铋、铌钽、铜、铅锌、金银、稀土等元素的不同状况和特征,其中锡、钼、铋是南岭钨矿床中最普遍最重要的共（伴）生元素,铌钽只在演化程度较高的花岗岩相关的钨矿床中伴生产出,铜、金作为钨矿床伴生金属的意义较小,而钨矿床中伴生的银、铅锌具有相当重要的意义。从元素地球化学性质、南岭的区域地背景、花岗岩演化、多期多阶段成矿作用等方面出发,分析和解释了它们之间相互共（伴）生的原因及差异性,探讨了其地质意义。     

Deformation features of garnet-bearing granites from Huwan,western Dabie Mountains

Foliated garnet-bearing granite, usually associated with high pressure and ultrahigh -pressure (UHP) metamophic rocks, is a particular rock-type extensively exposed in the Mesozoic Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt of China. This study focuses on deformation features and SHRIMP zircon dating of foliated garnet granite in a high-pressure metamorphic unit from Huwan, western Dabie Mountains in order to resolve discrepancies in current versions of its petrogenesis and structural evolution. SHRIMP dating reveals a zircon age of 762 ± 15 Ma (MSWD=1.7) for Huwan granites, representing the Middle to Late Neoproterozoic age of intrusion and crystallization. Field and microstructural studies show that the Huwan granite body underwent multiple-stage deformation. The deformation was manifested by an early stage of rootless folding and imposition of relict foliation (S₁); an Indosinian main stage marked by imposition of north-dipping penetrative gneissosity (S₂) and development of ductile shear zones under NNE-SSW directed compression; and a final Indosinian stage of southward thrusting of the Huwan high-pressure unit. Shallow level extension prevailed after the Late Triassic, giving rise to south-dipping thrust faults and north-dipping normal faults. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40802046 and 40334037) and the Project of Science & Technology Research and Development from Sinopec (Grant No. P02009)     

新疆东准噶尔北部扎河坝富碱花岗质岩石矿物学特征及物理化学条件

新疆东准噶尔北部扎河坝富碱花岗质岩石分布于乌伦古大断裂与额尔齐斯-玛因鄂博大断裂之间。富碱花岗岩类有石英碱性正长岩、碱性长石花岗岩、石英二长斑岩及碱性长石正长岩等岩石类型。在详细的显微镜观察基础上,全岩分析和电子探针分析结果表明,富碱花岗质岩中的矿物组合是碱性长石 石英 钠铁闪石 霓辉石,以出现高硅、富碱、贫铝、低钙、低镁、高铁、高锰、贫水为特征。铁钛氧化物温度计估算出的富碱花岗岩体结晶温度在650℃~755℃之间,氧逸度为10-17.17Pa~10-14.39Pa,结合钠铁闪石的特征,碱性岩浆演化后期存在着明显的水-岩作用,扎河坝富碱花岗质岩石形成于低压、高氧逸度、中高温环境,反映了相对开放、浅成的形成环境。