Geodynamic evolution of a forearc rift in the southernmost Mariana Arc

The southernmost Mariana forearc stretched to accommodate opening of the Mariana Trough backarc basin in late Neogene time, erupting basalts at 3.7–2.7 Ma that are now exposed in the Southeast Mariana Forearc Rift (SEMFR). Today, SEMFR is a broad zone of extension that formed on hydrated, forearc lithosphere and overlies the shallow subducting slab (slab depth ≤ 30–50 km). It comprises NW–SE trending subparallel deeps, 3–16 km wide, that can be traced ≥ ∼30 km from the trench almost to the backarc spreading center, the Malaguana‐Gadao Ridge (MGR). While forearcs are usually underlain by serpentinized harzburgites too cold to melt, SEMFR crust is mostly composed of Pliocene, low‐K basaltic to basaltic andesite lavas that are compositionally similar to arc lavas and backarc basin (BAB) lavas, and thus defines a forearc region that recently witnessed abundant igneous activity in the form of seafloor spreading. SEMFR igneous rocks have low Na₈, Ti₈, and Fe₈, consistent with extensive melting, at ∼23 ± 6.6 km depth and 1239 ± 40°C, by adiabatic decompression of depleted asthenospheric mantle metasomatized by slab‐derived fluids. Stretching of pre‐existing forearc lithosphere allowed BAB‐like mantle to flow along the SEMFR and melt, forming new oceanic crust. Melts interacted with pre‐existing forearc lithosphere during ascent. The SEMFR is no longer magmatically active and post‐magmatic tectonic activity dominates the rift.     

云县-景谷火山弧带大中河晚志留世火山岩的发现及其地质意义

云县-景谷火山弧带大中河地区新识别出一套晚志留世中基性-中酸性火山岩组合,其LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb年龄为421.2±1.2Ma和417.6±5.1Ma。该套火山岩具有富铝(12.73%～16.63%)、富钠(K₂O/Na₂O=0.56～0.99)和高Mg^#(46.0～50.0)的特征,属于钙碱性系列岩石;同时富集轻稀土,Eu具有不同程度的弱亏损,亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti),具有正ε_Nd(t)值(3.86～4.39)和较高的Th/Ta比值(15～17),显示与活动大陆边缘岛弧型火山岩相似的地球化学性质。大中河晚志留世火山岩很可能是俯冲沉积物流体交代地幔楔物质部分熔融的产物,并在岩浆上升过程中经历了一定的分离结晶作用和浅部地壳物质的同化混染;结合区域同期(410～420Ma)岩浆活动及相关的高压变质事件分析,应为原-古特提斯洋在早古生代末期向东俯冲消减作用的产物,从而为扬子陆块西部边缘晚古生代"三江"多岛弧盆系的形成演化提供了前锋弧发育的岩石学证据及其动力学机制。     

东准噶尔西缘晚古生代火山岩的锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素特征及构造意义

白碱沟和帐篷沟剖面位于东准噶尔西缘,出露有大量古生代火山岩,是研究东准噶尔古生代火山岩及构造演化的有利区域.本文利用LA-MC-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年法和Hf同位素系统对该区中的玄武岩、玄武质安山岩、流纹岩、角斑岩以及少量的凝灰岩和正长斑岩进行了地质年代学研究,认为它们形成于早泥盆世至晚石炭世之间(400～307...     

Miocene andesitic lavas of Sierra de Angangueo: a petrological,geochemical, and geochronological approach to arc magmatism in Central Mexico

ABSTRACT

The early and middle Miocene andesitic lavas of the Sierra de Angangueo (MALSA) represent one of the most prominent landforms of intermediate magmatism in Central Mexico. In this paper, we present new petrological, geochemical, thermobarometric, and geochronological data in order to discuss the conditions of MALSA’s emplacement in the lithosphere.

MALSA comprises a voluminous eroded early Miocene andesitic structure, emplaced on a Mesozoic basement. MALSA shows a wide variety of textures, from glassy and aphanitic to porphyritic, mainly composed of plagioclase (An_10-55), clinopyroxene (Wo_60-65; En_35-40), amphibole (Mg-hornblende/edenite), and rarely olivine (Fo_75–86) or orthopyroxene (En_72-80). Major and trace elements plots follow a typical calc-alkaline trend with relatively increasing fractionation.

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic signatures range between 0.703343 and 0.704459 and εNd values from +1.37 to +4.84; apparently without a significant contribution of an old, thick, or highly radiogenic continental crust. Lead isotope values ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb vary between 18.68 and 18.83, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 15.57 to 15.65, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb from 38.39 to 38.67, suggesting contamination of magmas by juvenile crust. Thermodynamic calculations indicate equilibrium conditions at ≤900°C and ~2 kbar and an average log ?O₂ ≈ ?10.

Ar–Ar and K–Ar dating carried out on whole rock, matrix, amphibole, and plagioclase phenocrysts yielded ages between 13.0 ± 0.5 and 23.9 ± 0.3 Ma. These dates indicate a series of pulses with maximum magmatic activity between 24 and 18 Ma.

The geochemical and petrologic data suggest partial melting processes in the lower or middle crust associated with possible magma mixing during its ascent; such a mechanism could explain a hybrid mantle-lower crust origin of this large volume of andesites. The MALSA, as well as the early to middle Miocene magmatism from Western Mexico, could represent two coeval and independent magmatic arcs prior to the present Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) in Central Mexico.     

Identification of Archaean plate tectonic processes from multidimensional discrimination diagrams and probability calculations

We applied our group's previously published multidimensional diagrams in 2006–2012 and corresponding probability estimates in 2011–2012 to geochemical data for Archaean rocks compiled from cratons in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and India. Tectonic processes similar to present-day plate tectonics evidently were active at least since the Palaeoarchaean (?3570 Ma). This seems to be true in spite of a presumably hotter Earth at that time. For the eastern part of the Pilbara craton (Australia), a Palaeoarchaean (3570–3450 Ma) and Mesoarchaean (2900 Ma) continental arc setting apparently evolved to a collision (Col) setting during the Neoarchaean (2600 Ma). We infer an island arc (IA) environment for Kambalda (Australia) during the Neoarchaean (2700 Ma). For the Barberton belt (South Africa), a transition from a mid-ocean ridge regime during the older part of the Palaeoarchaean (3470 Ma) to an IA setting during the younger part (3300–3260 Ma) is likely. We inferred an arc environment for the São Francisco craton (Brazil) and the Rio Maria terrane (Brazil) during the Mesoarchaean (3085–2983 Ma and 2870 Ma, respectively), whereas a within-plate setting is clearly indicated for the Carajás metallogenic province (Brazil) during the Neoarchaean (2740–2700 Ma). We also recognize an IA regime for the Mesoarchaean (3000 Ma) North Caribou and Neoarchaean (2700 Ma) Abitibi greenstone belts (Canada), and for the Gadwal greenstone belt (India) during the Neoarchaean (2700–2500 Ma). A Col setting was inferred for the Archaean sanukitoid suite (Canada) and the Kolar suture zone (India) during the Neoarchaean (2700–2660 Ma and 2630–2520 Ma, respectively).     

Palaeozoic multiphase magmatism at Barleik Mountain,southern West Junggar,Northwest China: implications for tectonic evolution of the West Junggar

The West Junggar lies in the southwest part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and consists of Palaeozoic ophiolitic mélanges, island arcs, and accretionary complexes. The Barleik ophiolitic mélange comprises several serpentinite-matrix strips along a NE-striking fault at Barleik Mountain in the southern West Junggar. Several small late Cambrian (509–503 Ma) diorite-trondhjemite plutons cross-cut the ophiolitic mélange. These igneous bodies are deformed and display island arc calc-alkaline affinities. Both the mélange and island arc plutons are uncomfortably covered by Devonian shallow-marine and terrestrial volcano-sedimentary rocks and Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary rocks. Detrital zircons (n = 104) from the Devonian sandstone yield a single age population of 452–517 million years, with a peak age of 474 million years. The Devonian–Carboniferous strata are invaded by an early Carboniferous (327 Ma) granodiorite, late Carboniferous (315–311 Ma) granodiorites, and an early Permian (277 Ma) K-feldspar granite. The early Carboniferous pluton is coeval with subduction-related volcano-sedimentary strata in the central West Junggar, whereas the late Carboniferous–early Permian intrusives are contemporary with widespread post-collisional magmatism in the West Junggar and adjacent regions. They are typically undeformed or only slightly deformed.

Our data reveal that island arc calc-alkaline magmatism occurred at least from middle Cambrian to Late Ordovician time as constrained by igneous and detrital zircon ages. After accretion to another tectonic unit to the south, the ophiolitic mélange and island arc were exposed, eroded, and uncomfortably overlain by the Devonian shallow-marine and terrestrial volcano-sedimentary strata. The early Carboniferous arc-related magmatism might reflect subduction of the Junggar Ocean in the central Junggar. Before the late Carboniferous, the oceanic basins apparently closed in this area. These different tectonic units were stitched together by widespread post-collisional plutons in the West Junggar during the late Carboniferous–Permian. Our data from the southern West Junggar and those from the central and northern West Junggar and surroundings consistently indicate that the southwest part of the CAOB was finally amalgamated before the Permian.     

Kinematics of the Guerrero terrane accretion in the Sierra de Guanajuato,central Mexico: new insights for the structural evolution of arc–continent collisional zones

The Guerrero terrane comprises Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous arc successions that were accreted to the North American craton in the late Early Cretaceous, producing closure of the Arperos oceanic basin and the formation of an approximately 100 km-wide fold–thrust belt. Such a suture is key to investigating the structural evolution related to Guerrero terrane accretion and, in general, to arc–continent collisional zones. The Sierra de Guanajuato is an exposure of the Guerrero terrane suture belt and consists of a complex tectonic pile that formed through at least three major shortening phases: D1SG, D2SG, and D3SG (SG, Sierra de Guanajuato). During the D1SG and D2SG phases, the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous successions of the Arperos Basin piled up, forming a doubly vergent imbricate fan of thrust sheets that accommodated substantial NE–SW shortening. Mylonite microtextures, as well as syntectonic minerals, indicate that the D1SG and D2SG deformation events took place under low greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions. We relate these deformation phases to the progressive NE migration of the Guerrero terrane, which triggered the collapse and closure of the Arperos Basin. During D3SG, the El Paxtle arc assemblage of the Guerrero terrane was tectonically emplaced onto the previously deformed successions of the Arperos Basin. However, D3SG structures indicate that during this deformational stage, the main shortening direction was oriented NW–SE and that contraction was accommodated mostly by SE-vergent ductile thrusts formed under low greenschist-facies metamorphic conditions. We suggest that the top-to-the-SE emplacement of the El Paxtle assemblage may be a result of the tectonic escape of the arc produced by the continuous NE impingement of the Guerrero terrane during its collisional addition to the Mexican mainland.     

Hydration and dehydration in the lower margin of a cold mantle wedge: implications for crust–mantle interactions and petrogeneses of arc magmas

Garnet orthopyroxenites from Maowu (Dabieshan orogen, eastern China) were formed from a refractory harzburgite/dunite protolith. They preserve mineralogical and geochemical evidence of hydration/metasomatism and dehydration at the lower edge of a cold mantle wedge. Abundant polyphase inclusions in the cores of garnet porphyroblasts record the earliest metamorphism and metasomatism in garnet orthopyroxenites. They are mainly composed of pargasitic amphibole, gedrite, chlorite, talc, phlogopite, and Cl-apatite, with minor anhydrous minerals such as orthopyroxene, sapphirine, spinel, and rutile. Most of these phases have high X_Mg, NiO, and Ni/Mg values, implying that they probably inherited the chemistry of pre-existing olivine. Trace element analyses indicate that polyphase inclusions are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), light rare earth elements (LREE), and high field strength elements (HFSE), with spikes of Ba, Pb, U, and high U/Th. Based on the P–T conditions of formation for the polyphase inclusions (?1.4 GPa, 720–850°C), we suggest that the protolith likely underwent significant hydration/metasomatism by slab-derived fluid under shallow–wet–cold mantle wedge corner conditions beneath the forearc. When the hydrated rocks were subducted into a deep–cold mantle wedge zone and underwent high-pressure–ultrahigh-pressure (HP–UHP) metamorphism, amphibole, talc, and chlorite dehydrated and garnet, orthopyroxene, Ti-chondrodite, and Ti-clinohumite formed during prograde metamorphism. The majority of LILE (e.g. Ba, U, Pb, Sr, and Th) and LREE were released into the fluid formed by dehydration reactions, whereas HFSE (e.g. Ti, Nb, and Ta) remained in the cold mantle wedge lower margin. Such fluid resembling the trace element characteristics of arc magmas evidently migrates into the overlying, internal, hotter part of the mantle wedge, thus resulting in a high degree of partial melting and the formation of arc magmas.     

Zircon U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Maoliger quartz monzodiorites,Inner Mongolia,China: implications for Carboniferous arc magmatism and closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean

Recent research has identified an early to late Carboniferous magmatic arc that extends from Suzuo Qi to Xiwu Qi in Inner Mongolia, China, but the eastern extension of this arc is unknown. Understanding the relationship between this arc and the Hegenshan ophiolite belt and Xilamulun Solonker suture zone is important to our understanding of the tectonic evolution of the late Palaeozoic Palaeo-Asian Ocean. Here, we present new zircon laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb and geochemical data for the Maoliger quartz monzodiorites within the Jalaid Qi area. The Maoliger quartz monzodiorites formed at 329 ± 2 Ma, are low-K and tholeiitic, and have geochemical signatures indicative of formation within a magmatic arc. These rocks are large-ion lithophile element (e.g. Rb, Ba, and Sr)-enriched and high-field-strength element (e.g. Nb and Ta)-depleted. Combined with previously published researches, it is suggested that the quartz monzodiorites within the Jalaid Qi area formed contemporaneously with and are geochemically similar to quartz diorites of the Xiwu Qi area and the Baolidao pluton in the Suzuo Qi area. This indicates that the early to late Carboniferous magmatic arc in this region extends eastward to the Jalaid Qi area. This arc is located in an area parallel to a southerly early Permian magmatic arc, suggesting that the Palaeo-Asian Ocean subduction zone migrated south between the early Carboniferous and early Permian. The new data show that the Palaeo-Asian Ocean closed after the late Carboniferous.     

Petrology and geochemistry of greywackes of the ~1.6 Ga Middle Aravalli Supergroup,northwest India: evidence for active margin processes

Geochemical and petrological studies of the well-preserved greywacke horizon of the ‘Middle Aravalli Group’ were carried out to constrain the early evolution of the Aravalli basin. Petrological and geochemical attributes of Middle Aravalli greywackes (MAGs) such as very poor sorting, high angularity of framework grains, presence of fresh plagioclase and K-feldspars, variable Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) index (46.7–74.5, avg. 61), and high Index of Compositional Variability (ICV) value (~1.05) suggest rapid physical erosion accompanying an active tectonic regime. The sediments record post-depositional K-metasomatism and extraneous addition of 0–25% (avg. ~10%) K is indicated. Assuming close system behaviour of immobile elements during sedimentation, various diagnostic element ratios such as Th/Sc, La/Sc, Zr/Sc, and Co/Th, Eu anomaly and rare earth element patterns of MAG suggest that the Archaean Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC) basement was not the major source of sediments. In conjunction with the dominant 1.8–1.6 Ga detrital zircon age peaks of Middle Aravalli clastic rocks, these data rather indicate that the sediments were derived from a young differentiated continental margin-type arc of andesite–dacite–rhyodacite composition. A highly fractionated mid-oceanic-ridge-basalt-normalized trace element pattern of MAGs, with characteristic enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion of heavy rare earth elements, negative Nb-Ta, Ti and P anomalies, positive Pb anomaly, and distinctive Nb/Ta, Zr/Sm, Th/Yb, and Ta/Yb, Ce/Pb ratios envelop the composition of modern continental arc magmas (andesite–dacite) of the Andes, suggesting a subduction zone tectonic setting for precursor magma. High magnitude of LILE enrichment and high Th/Yb ratios in these sediments indicate that thick continental crust (~70 km) underlay the ‘Middle Aravalli’ continental arc, similar to the Central Volcanic Zone of the modern Andes. We propose that eastward subduction of Delwara oceanic crust beneath the BGC continent led to the formation of a continental volcanic arc, which supplied detritus to the forearc basin situated to the west. This model also explains the opening of linear ensialic basins in the Bhilwara terrain, such as in Rajpura–Dariba and Rampura–Agucha in a classical back-arc extension regime, similar to the Andean continental margin of the Mesozoic. On the basis of the recent ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb detrital zircon age of Middle Aravalli sediment, a time frame between 1772 and 1586 Ma can be assigned for Middle Aravalli continental arc magmatism.