Cordierite-bearing schists and gneisses from Timor, eastern Indonesia: P-T conditions of metamorphism and tectonic implications

In the Boi Massif of Western Timor the Mutis Complex, which is equivalent to the Lolotoi Complex of East Timor, is composed of two lithostratigraphical components: various basement schists and gneisses; and the dismembered remnants of an ophiolite. Cordierite-bearing pelitic schists and gneisses carry an early mineral assemblage of biotite + garnet + plagioclase + Al-silicate, but contain no prograde muscovite; sillimanite occurs in a textural mode which suggests that it replaced and pseudomorphed kyanite at an early stage and some specimens of pelitic schist contain tiny kyanite relics in plagioclase. Textural relations between, and mineral chemistries of, ferro-magnesian phases in these pelitic chists and gneisses suggest that two discontinuous reactions and additional continuous compositional changes have been overstepped, possibly with concomitant anatexis, as a result of decrease in P_load during high temperature metamorphism. The simplified reactions are: garnet and/or biotite + sillimanite + quartz + cordierite + hercynite + ilmenite + excess components. P-T conditions during the development of the early mineral assemblage in the pelitic gneisses are estimated to have been P + 10 kbar and T > 750°C, based upon the plagioclase-garnet-Al-silicate-quartz geobarometer and the garnet-biotite geothermometer. P-T conditions during the subsequent development of cordierite-bearing mineral assemblages in the pelitic gneisses are estimated to have been P + 5 kbar and T + 700°C with X_H2O < 0.5, based upon the Fe content of cordierite occurring in the assemblage quartz + plagioclase + sillimanite + biotite + garnet + cordierite coexisting with melt. Final equilibration between some of the phases suggests that conditions dropped to P > 2.3 kbar and T > 600°C. A similar exhumation P-T path is suggested for the pelitic schists with early metamorphic conditions of P > 6.2 kbar and T > 745°C and subsequent development of cordierite under conditions in the range P = 3-4 kbar and T = 600-700°C. The tectonic implications of these P-T estimates are discussed and it is concluded that the P-T path followed by these rocks was caused by decompression during rifting and synmetamorphic ophiolite emplacement resulting from processes during the initiation and development of a convergent plate junction located in Southeast Asia during late Jurassic to Cretaceous time.     

The petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the granitoid gneisses from Xingxingxia in the eastern segment of Central Tianshan

As part of Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), the Central Tianshan zone plays a crucial role in the reconstruction of the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. Furthermore, it is bordered by the Tarim Craton to the south, and the comparable evolutionary history between them enables the Central Tianshan zone to provide essential information on the crustal evolution of the Tarim Craton. The eastern segment of the Central Tianshan tectonic zone is characterized by the presence of numerous Precambrian metamorphic rocks, among which the Xingxingxia Group is the most representative one. The granitoids gneisses, intruded into the Xingxingxia Group, consist of two major lithological assemblages: (1) biotite-monzonitic gneisses and (2) biotite-plagioclase gneisses. These metamorphosed granitoid rocks are characterized by enrichment in SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and K₂O and depletion in MgO and FeO_T. The Rittmann index (σ) spreads between 1.44 and 2.21 and ACNK (Al₂O₃/(CaO + Na₂O + K₂O)) ranges from 1.03 to 1.08, indicating that these granitoid gneisses are high-K calc-alkaline and peraluminous. Trace element data indicate that the studied samples are enriched in LREE with moderate REE fractionated patterns ((La/Yb)_N = 10.5–75.3). The concentrations of HREE of the garnet-bearing gneisses are significantly higher than those of garnet-free gneisses. The former show pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.32–0.57), while the latter are characterized by negligible negative Eu anomalies to moderate positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.80–1.35). In addition, the enrichment of LILE (Rb, Th, K, Pb) and depletion of HFSE (Ta, Nb, P, Ti) of the examined granitoid gneisses are similar to typical volcanic-arc granites. Zircons U–Pb dating on the biotite monzonitic gneiss yields a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 942.4 ± 5.1 Ma, suggesting their protoliths were formed in the early Neoproterozoic, which is compatible with the time of the assembly of supercontinent Rodinia. The zircons have a large ε_Hf(t) variation from −5.6 to +3.2, suggesting that both old crust-derived magmas and mantle-derived juvenile materials contributed to the formation of their protoliths. Based on field observation, and petrological, geochemical and geochronological investigations, we infer that the granitoid gneisses from Xingxingxia were probably formed on a continental arc that resulted from the interaction of Australia and the Tarim Craton during the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent, and that the Central Tianshan zone was a part of the Tarim Craton during that time. Besides, the Grenvillian orogenic events may have developed better in the Tarim Craton than previously expected.     

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr dating of Archaean gneisses,eastern Yilgarn Block,Western Australia

Sm‐Nd and Rb‐Sr isotopic data for Archaean gneisses from three localities within the eastern Yilgarn Block of Western Australia indicate that the gneisses define a precise Rb‐Sr whole rock isochron age of 2780 ± 60 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7007 ± 5. The Sm‐Nd isotopic data do not correspond to a single linear array, but form two coherent groups that are consistent with a c. 2800 Ma age of crust formation, with variable initial Nd. These results indicate that the gneiss protoliths existed as continental crust for a maximum period of only c. 100 Ma, and probably for a much shorter time, prior to the formation of the 2790 ±30 Ma greenstones.     

西秦岭北缘新元古代花岗质片麻岩的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

西秦岭造山带北缘古元古界变质杂岩中新识别出新元古代元龙花岗质片麻岩和新阳花岗质片麻岩。花岗质片麻岩中锆石Th/U比值较高,阴极发光图象显示锆石内部发育振荡环带,具岩浆成因特点。LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb同位素206Pb/238U加权平均年龄分别为914.7±7.6Ma(MSWD=4.8)、978.5±4.8Ma(MSWD=1.5)和935.5±3.1Ma(MSWD=1.3),表明花岗岩岩体形成于新元古代,反映了新元古代早期西秦岭北缘存在一次俯冲碰撞事件,与Rodinia超大陆的汇聚事件具有一致性。     

河南桐柏地区麻粒岩和片麻岩的岩石学特征及其成因意义

对河南桐柏地区麻粒岩及其周围以前被认为是片麻岩的岩石从野外特征、结构构造、矿物成分、化学成分及峰期变质条件上进行比较，认为它们均相同。似层状、透镜状麻粒岩间以前被认为是高度风化片麻岩的岩石仍是麻粒岩，这是后期应力作用产生差异变形、退变质及风化作用的结果。这种变化不能等同于麻粒岩退变质为片麻岩。因此，桐柏麻粒岩的北侧围岩是与其呈断层接触的大理岩，南侧围岩为郭庄组上段花岗质片麻岩，麻粒岩构成一个约0．5km～2．0km宽的变质带。这对探讨桐柏麻粒岩的形成和演化具有重要意义。     

Early Paleoproterozoic magmatism in the Quanji Massif, northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its tectonic significance: LA-ICPMS U-Pb zircon geochronology and geochemistry

The Quanji Massif is located on the north side of the Qaidam Block and is interpreted as an ancient cratonic remnant that was detached from the Tarim Craton. There are regionally exposed granitic gneisses in the basement of the Quanji Massif whose protoliths were granitic intrusive rocks. Previous studies obtained intrusion ages for some of these granitic gneiss protoliths. The intrusion ages span a wide range from ~ 2.2 Ga to ~ 2.47 Ga. This study has determined the U-Pb zircon age of four granitic gneiss samples from the eastern, central and western parts of the Quanji Massif. CL images and trace elements show that the zircons from these four granitic gneisses have typical magmatic origins, and experienced different degrees of Pb loss due to strong metamorphism and deformation. LA-ICPMS zircon dating yields an upper intercept age of 2381 ± 41 (2σ) Ma from monzo-granitic gneiss in the Hudesheng area and 2392 ± 25 (2σ) Ma from granodioritic gneiss in the Mohe area, eastern Quanji Massif, and 2367 ± 12 (2σ) Ma from monzo-granitic gneiss in the Delingha area, central Quanji Massif, and 2372 ± 22 (2σ) Ma from monzo-granitic gneiss in the Quanjishan area, western Quanji Massif. These results reveal that the intrusive age of the protoliths of the widespread granitic gneisses in the Quanji Massif basement was restricted between 2.37 and 2.39 Ga, indicating regional granitic magmatism in the early Paleoproterozoic, perhaps related to the fragmentation stage of the Kenorland supercontinent. Geochemical results from the granodioritic gneiss from the Mohe area indicate that the protolith of this gneiss is characterized by adakitic rocks derived from partial melting of garnet-amphibolite beneath a thickened lower crust in a rifting regime after continent-continent collision and crustal thickening, genetically similar to the TTG gneisses in the North China Craton. This suggests that the Quanji Massif had a tectonic history similar to the Archean Central Orogenic Belt of North China Craton during the early Paleoproterozoic. We tentatively suggest that the Quanji Massif and the parental Tarim Craton and the North China Craton experienced rifting in the early Paleoproterozoic, after amalgamation at the end of the Archean. The Tarim Craton and North China Craton might have had close interaction from the late Neoarchean to the early Paleoproterozoic.     

大别山东部超高太变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩及其构造背景

大别山东部超高压变质带北侧的花岗片麻岩有下列特征。（１）化学成分富硅、富碱,一般ＳｉＯ２＜７５％,Ｋ２Ｏ＋Ｎａ２Ｏ＞８％,且Ｋ２Ｏ＞Ｎａ２Ｏ。（２）与变质表壳岩有侵入接触关系,有异源、深源包体。（３）主要为鳞片花岗变晶结构,有残留的岩浆结构,普遍具片麻状构造,钾长石常以眼球状巨晶出现,剪切带中发育Ｌ＞Ｓ型变形组构。（４）变质作用为角闪岩相,变质矿物为黑云母、角闪石以及少量石榴石、白云母、绿帘石等。。（５）锆石的乙—Ｐ６同位素年龄值为６２９Ｍａ。上述特征与超高压变质带中的含霓石变质花岗岩有明显的区别,因此,它可能是杨子大陆板块的俯冲基底。     

Sequential growth of cordierite and andalusite porphyroblasts, Cooma Complex, Australia: microstructural evidence of a prograde reaction

Abstract Low-pressure prograde metamorphism of pelitic rocks in the Cooma Complex, south-east Australia, has produced cordierite-andalusite schists at intermediate grades. The first foliation (S₁) is preserved largely as inclusion trails in cordierite porphyroblasts. Microstructural evidence indicates that the cordierite porphyroblasts grew during the early stages of development of a crenulation-foliation (S₂) and that andalusite porphyroblasts grew during the development of a later crenulation-foliation (S₃). Microstructural evidence also indicates that the andalusite was a product of the prograde reaction: cordierite + muscovite ± andalusite + biotite + quartz. The occurrence of the products of this reaction in 'beard'structures between cordierite microboudins formed by extension in S₃ confirms that the andalusite grew during the development of S₃. The investigation shows that porphyroblast-matrix relationships can preserve the orientation of an early S-surface that has been largely obliterated from the matrix, as well as providing relatively direct evidence of sequential mineral growth and metamorphic reactions.     

Progressive sequence of reactions of the Ryoke metamorphism in the Yanai district, southwest Japan: the formation of cordierite

The compositions of biotite and muscovite were examined in terms of the paragenesis and the metamorphic grade in low- to medium-grade pelitic rocks of the Ryoke metamorphism in the Yanai district, southwest Japan. The biotite and muscovite that coexist with K-feldspar have a higher K component in an A'KF diagram than those in rocks lacking K-feldspar. This fact reflects an increase in the K₂O content in muscovite, but in biotite it reflects an increase of not only the K₂O content but also of the octahedral vacancy.
At higher metamorphic grade beyond the cordierite isograd, where cordierite coexists with neither chlorite nor K-feldspar, the biotite shows an increase in illite, K Aliv □xii−1 Si−1, and Tschermak components, Alvi Aliv R+−1 Si−1, where □xii and R+ denote the interlayer vacancy and (Fe+Mg+Mn), respectively. A reaction to define the cordierite isograd is proposed by treating this chemical change as being responsible for the first appearance of cordierite, i.e. K,Al-poor biotite+phengitic muscovite=K,Al-rich biotite+cordierite+quartz+water .By treating this as a key reaction in medium-grade metamorphism, a set of reaction in a progressive metamorphism is established for the Ryoke metamorphism, a typical low-pressure type metamorphism. Some textures in one of the high-grade areas, the K-feldspar-cordierite zone, suggest that a further two prograde reactions have taken place, i.e. andalusite+biotite+quartz=cordierite+K-feldspar+water
and   andalusite=sillimanite.quartz=cordierite+K-feldspar+water
This implies that this zone probably has a P–T  path involving isobaric heating.     

Early Paleozoic Magmatism in Himalayan Orogen: The Geochronological Study on Augen Gneisses from Gyirongand Nyalam Areas,Southern Tibet

In the Gyirong and Nyalam areas, a massive amount of augen gneisses are extensively exposed in the middle Himalayan orogen. They consist of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, biotite and minor muscovite. Zircons from augen gneisses have magmatic rims indicated by concentric oscillatory zoning. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating gave weighted mean ages of (488.5±1.1) Ma (MSWD=0.6)、(475.1±0.7) Ma (MSWD=1.5) and (468.1±2.5) Ma (MSWD=4.2), hinting early Paleozoic magmatism in the Greater Himalayan Crystalline complex (GHC). The data in this study and other published geochronological results of Cambrian-Ordovician magmatites demonstrated that early Paleozoic orogenesis existed in the Himalayas. Early Paleozoic tectonic events preserved in Himalayas are well compared with the contemporaneous ones in the Lhasa terrane, Qiangtang terrane, Baoshan terrane and Tengchong terrane located in the south and southeast of Tibet Plateau. Integrating previous studies, we suggested an Andean-type orogeny corresponding to dynamic adjusting of the plates by subduction of the Proto-Tethys Ocean lithosphere along the northern margin of Gondwana, instead of Pan-African orogeny that was characterized by the continent-continent collisions during Gondwana assembly.