Effect of metamorphism and partial melting of host rocks on zircons

Abstract Zircons have been studied from different layers of migmatites (from Arvika, western Sweden and Nelaug, southern Norway) and from a paragneiss (from Arvika) associated with one of the migmatites. The main purpose of the investigation is to establish whether or not information about zircons can help in the elucidation of the parentage and rock-forming processes of migmatites.
The elongation ratio of zircons from all layers is small and characteristic of sedimentary zircons. Further, the absence of characteristic colours and the growth trends of the zircons (indicated by the reduced major axes) observed in the various samples both support a sedimentary parentage for these rocks. The zircons of all layers exhibit secondary growth (overgrowth, outgrowth and multiple growth) due to metamorphism. Compared with the zircons from the paragneiss, those of the migmatite layers are more clouded and less rounded, some of them becoming opaque or even skeletal; this is especially true of the zircons from the leucosomes. These observations indicate an alteration of the original sedimentary zircons in the migmatite, especially in the leucosomes, in response to the migmatization process, previously interpreted as partial melting.     

Ionprobe U-Pb zircon ages from the high-pressure/low-temperature mélange of Syros, Greece: age diversity and the importance of pre-Eocene subduction

The Cycladic blueschist belt in the central Aegean Sea has experienced high‐pressure (HP) metamorphism during collisional processes between the Apulian microplate and Eurasia. The general geological and tectonometamorphic framework is well documented, but one aspect which is yet not sufficiently explored is the importance of HP mélanges which occur within volcano‐sedimentary successions. Unresolved issues concern the range in magmatic and metamorphic ages recorded by mélange blocks and the significance of eventual pre‐Eocene HP metamorphism. These aspects are here addressed in a U‐Pb zircon study focusing on the block–matrix association exposed on the island of Syros. Two gneisses from a tectonic slab of this mélange, consisting of an interlayered felsic gneiss‐glaucophanite sequence, yielded zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 240.1 ± 4.1 and 245.3 ± 4.9 Ma, respectively, similar to Triassic ages determined on zircon in meta‐volcanic rocks from structurally coherent sequences elsewhere in the Cyclades. This strongly suggests that parts of these successions have been incorporated in the mélanges and provides the first geochronological evidence that the provenance of mélange blocks/slabs is neither restricted to a single source nor confined to fragments of oceanic lithosphere. Zircon from a jadeitite and associated alteration zones (omphacitite, glaucophanite and chlorite‐actinolite rock) all yielded identical ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of c. 80 Ma. Similar Cretaceous U‐Pb zircon ages previously reported for mélange blocks have been interpreted by different authors to reflect magmatic or metamorphic ages. The present study adds a further argument in favour of the view that zircon formed newly in some rock types at c. 80 Ma, due to hydrothermal or metasomatic processes in a subduction zone environment, and supports the interpretation that the Cycladic blueschist belt records both Cretaceous and Eocene HP episodes and not only a single Tertiary HP event.     

Timing and geochemical characters of the Sanchazi magmatic arc in Mianlüe tectonic zone, South Qinling

The Sanchazi mafic-ultramafic complex in Mianlue tectonic zone, South Qinling can be subdivided into two blocks, i.e. Sanchazi paleo-magmatic arc and Zhuangkegou paleo-oceanic crust fragment (ophiolite). The Sanchazi paleo-magmatic arc is mainly composed of andesite, basaltic and basalt-andesitic gabbro (or diorite), andesitic dyke, plagiogranite and minor ultramafic rocks, which have typical geochemical features of island arc volcanic rocks, such as high field strength element (e.g. Nb, Ti) depletions and lower Cr, Ni contents. The Light rare earth element (LREE) and K enrichments of these rocks and zircon xenocrystals of 900 Ma from plagiogranite suggest that this magmatic arc was developed on the South active continental margin of the South Qinling micro-continent. The U-Pb age of (300 ± 61)Ma for zircons from plagiogranite indicates that the Mianlue paleo-oceanic crust was probably subducted underneath the South Qinling micro-continent in Carboniferous. This is consistent with the formation time (309Ma) of the Huwan eclogite originating from oceanic subduction in Dabie Mountains, suggesting that the Mianlue paleo-ocean probably extended eastward to the Dabie Mountains in Carboniferous. The high-Mg adakitic rocks in Sanchazi paleo-magmatic arc suggest that the subducted oceanic crust was relatively young (＜25Ma) and hot.     

Zircon and whole-rock Nd-Pb isotopic provenance of Middle and Upper Ordovician siliciclastic rocks, Argentine Precordillera

Graptolite‐bearing Middle and Upper Ordovician siliciclastic facies of the Argentine Precordillera fold‐thrust belt record the disintegration of a long‐lived Cambro‐Mid Ordovician carbonate platform into a series of tectonically partitioned basins. A combination of stratigraphic, petrographic, U‐Pb detrital zircon, and Nd‐Pb whole‐rock isotopic data provide evidence for a variety of clastic sediment sources. Four Upper Ordovician quartzo‐lithic sandstones collected in the eastern and central Precordillera yield complex U‐Pb zircon age spectra dominated by 1·05–1·10 Ga zircons, secondary populations of 1·22, 1·30, and 1·46 Ga, rare 2·2 and 1·8 Ga zircons, and a minor population (<2%) of concordant zircons in the 600–700 Ma range. Archaean‐age grains comprise <1% of all zircons analysed from these rocks. In contrast, a feldspathic arenite from the Middle Ordovician Estancia San Isidro Formation of the central Precordillera has two well‐defined peaks at 1·41 and 1·43 Ga, with no grains in the 600–1200 Ma range and none older than 1·70 Ga. The zircon age spectrum in this unit is similar to that of a Middle Cambrian quartz arenite from the La Laja Formation, suggesting that local basement rocks were a regional source of ca 1·4 Ga detrital zircons in the Precordillera Terrane from the Cambrian onwards. The lack of grains younger than 600 Ma in Upper Ordovician units reinforces petrographic data indicating that Ordovician volcanic arc sources did not supply significant material directly to these sedimentary basins. Nd isotopic data (n = 32) for Middle and Upper Ordovician graptolitic shales from six localities define a poorly mixed signal [ɛ_Nd(450 Ma) = −9·6 to −4·5] that becomes more regionally homogenized in Upper Ordovician rocks (−6·2 ± 1·0; T_DM = 1·51 ± 0·15 Ga; n = 17), a trend reinforced by the U‐Pb detrital zircon data. It is concluded that proximal, recycled orogenic sources dominated the siliciclastic sediment supply for these basins, consistent with rapid unroofing of the Precordillera Terrane platform succession and basement starting in Mid Ordovician time. Common Pb data for Middle and Upper Ordovician shales from the western and eastern Precordillera (n = 15) provide evidence for a minor (<30%) component that was likely derived from a high‐μ (U/Pb) terrane.     

Caledonian Low-Temperature Granulite-Facies Metamorphism in the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt—SHRIMP Chronological Evidence from Zircon

The West Kunlun orogenic belt is located at the conjunction of the paleo-Asian tectonic system and the Tethys tectonic system. Petrological and mineralogical studies of the Early Cambrian metamorphic surface crust in this region have shown that in case the metamorphism reached low-temperature granulate facies, the typical mineral assemblage is biotite-garnet-silimanite-K feldspar-plagioclase-quartz. The peak metamorphic temperatures are within the range of 720–740°C and the pressure is 0.6 GPa ±. Three types of metamorphic zircon have been detected in the metamorphic rocks: the complex inclusion-bearing type ; the early relic zircon inclusion-bearing type; and the inclusion-free type. SHRIMP age determination of these three types of metamorphic zircon have revealed that these zircons were formed principally during 400–460 Ma, indicating that pre-Cambrian metamorphic surface crust rocks underwent low-temperature granulite facies metamorphism during the Caledonian. In combination with the geological characteristics of this region, it is considered that when the oceanic basin was closed, there occurred intense intracontinental subduction (type A), bringing part of the Early Cambrian metamorphic basement in this region downwards to the lower crust. Meanwhile, there were accompanied with tectonic deformation at deep levels and medium- to high-grade metamorphism. This study provided important chronological and mineralogical evidence for the exploration of the evolutionary mechanism and process of the West Kunlun Early Paleozoic. Part of the results from the research project “ Research on the West Kunlun pre-Cambrian tectonic events” under the program “ Research on the important geological problems of China’ s pre-Cambrian” (No. 200113900070) sponsored by the China National Geological Surveying Bureau.     

大兴安岭北段洛古河地区晚寒武世花岗岩的岩石成因及其对兴蒙造山带构造演化的约束

大兴安岭北段早古生代花岗岩主要分布于漠河—塔河一线。对漠河北部洛古河二长花岗岩开展岩石年代学与岩石地球化学研究。二长花岗岩中锆石为岩浆成因,LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年表明,其形成时代为晚寒武世（486±3 Ma）。岩石具高硅（SiO2=62.75%~73.32%）、富碱（ALK=8.30%~9.45%）、高铝（Al2O3=13.97%~16.53%）、低镁、低钙和低钛的特点,铝饱和指数A/CNK为0.91~1.10,属偏铝质高钾钙碱性岩石系列。SiO2与Al2O3和P2O5具有较好的负相关性;富集Rb、Th、U、K、Zr、Hf等元素,而强烈亏损Ba、Nb、Ta、Sr、P、Ti等元素,球粒陨石标准化的稀土元素配分曲线图中呈轻稀土元素富集、重稀土元素亏损的右倾型配分模式,显示了Ⅰ型花岗岩特征。综合分析认为,洛古河岩体形成于西伯利亚板块南缘与额尔古纳等微陆块碰撞造山晚期由挤压体制向拉张体制转换的后碰撞构造环境。     

阿尔金淡水泉早古生代泥质高压麻粒岩及其P-T演化轨迹

南阿尔金构造带淡水泉一带出露的含石榴石蓝晶石黑云母片麻岩是一套典型的泥质高压麻粒岩,其峰期特征矿物组合为石榴子石+蓝晶石+钾长石+金红石+石英.根据矿物内部一致性热力学数据和Thermocalc 3.23程序计算,确定其峰期变质温压条件为T>850℃和P>11kbar.结合岩相学研究和P-T视剖面图计算,可识别出该岩石经历了4个阶段的变质演化,构成了一个早期快速等温降压,后期近等压降温的顺时针型的退变质P-T演化轨迹,为与陆壳俯冲碰撞有关的高压变质事件的产物.该岩石锆石阴极发光图像显示其内部具有明显的核.边结构,核部为残留的原岩碎屑锆石,边部则表现为面状或扇状生长的变质锆石的特征.微区原位LA-ICP-MS微量元素分析表明,核部测点的重稀土含量较高,对应Th/U接近于0.4,具有岩浆锆石的特征;边部测点的重稀土相对亏损,重稀土配分曲线平坦,对应Th/U比值均小于0.1,显示与石榴子石平衡共生的变质锆石特征.LA-ICP-MS微区定年获得其变质年龄为486±5Ma,该年龄值与阿尔金江尕勒萨依和英格利萨依两地超高压变质岩石的变质年龄相近,进一步证明沿阿尔金构造带南缘断续存在一条早古生代的高压-超高压变质岩带.另外,本次研究在获得该泥质高压麻粒岩峰期变质时代的同时,还获得该岩石原岩的形成时代上限值约为719Ma,从而限定阿尔金构造带南缘阿尔金群的形成时代可能不属古元古代,而应属新元古代.     

内蒙古阿拉善北部雅干构造带白山组火山岩年龄、地球化学特征及其对区域构造演化的约束

阿拉善北部雅干地区古生代火山岩发育,研究其形成时代和地质特征,对探讨中亚造山带中段南缘北山弧盆系的演化具有重要的意义。对雅干地区原划奥陶系火山岩进行了同位素年代学与地球化学研究,获得流纹岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄为298.4±1.5Ma,时代为早二叠世初期,结合岩石组合特征和区域对比,将其重新厘定为上石炭统—下二叠统白山组。该套火山岩富SiO2、高K2O、低TiO2,属于钙碱性系列; 相对富集Rb、Pb、K等大离子亲石元素,明显亏损Ta、Nb、P、Ti等高场强元素; 呈现为轻稀土元素相对富集、重稀土元素相对亏损的的右倾特征,具有较明显的负Eu异常,显示出陆缘弧火山岩的地球化学特征。上述证据表明,雅干地区白山组火山岩形成于古亚洲洋向明水-旱山地块北缘俯冲的陆缘弧构造环境。     

南岭东段龙源坝复式岩体La-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄及其地质意义

龙源坝岩体是南岭花岗岩体群的一个重要组成部分,位于南岭东段,研究程度十分薄弱,至今未见可靠的同位素年龄报道。本文在运用阴极发光技术对岩体中的锆石进行细致的内部结构分析的基础上,利用La-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb原位定年方法进行了同位素年龄测定。结果表明,龙源坝岩体是一个印支期—燕山期多期次岩浆侵入形成的复式岩体,其中主体形成于印支期,尤其是印支早期。印支早期花岗岩的单颗粒锆石U-Pb年龄为241.0±5.9Ma和241.0±1.3Ma(两个样品),印支晚期花岗岩为210.9±3.8Ma,燕山期正长岩为149.4±1.2Ma。龙源坝岩体在时代和成因上不同于其东侧的陂头岩体,但相同于北侧的诸广山岩体有亲缘关系,因此在探讨该区的铀成矿前景时,应把诸广山与龙源坝两岩体整合起来考虑,并加强对龙源坝岩体的铀矿找矿工作。     

华北克拉通南缘豫西下汤地区2.3 Ga岩浆作用和1.94 Ga变质作用

本文报道了华北克拉通南缘豫西鲁山下汤地区古元古代片麻状花岗岩和黑云角闪斜长片麻岩的全岩地球化学和锆石SHRIMP U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素组成。岩石呈包体形式存在于中元古代花岗岩中。片麻状花岗岩具深熔特征,岩浆锆石年龄为2.30Ga;岩石高SiO2和K2O,低ΣFeO、MgO和CaO,具稀土总量较高(ΣREE=165.8×10-6)、轻重稀土分离较强[(La/Yb)n=37.8]及弱负铕异常(Eu/Eu*=0.76)的稀土模式;εNd(t)(t=2.30Ga)=-0.75;tDM(Nd)=2.66Ga。黑云角闪斜长片麻岩变质原岩为辉长闪长岩,捕获锆石年龄为2.25Ga;岩石低SiO2和MgO,高Al2O3和P2O5,具稀土总量高(ΣREE=373.4×10-6)、轻重稀土分离不强[(La/Yb)n=9.4]及较强负铕异常(Eu/Eu*=0.44)的稀土模式;εNd(t)(t=2.25Ga)=-1.21;tDM(Nd)=2.75Ga。片麻状花岗岩和黑云角闪斜长片麻岩都记录了1.94Ga变质锆石年龄。片麻状花岗岩的岩浆锆石组成域的εHf(t)(t=2.30Ga)=-6.71～0.38,tDM1(Hf)=2627～2910Ma,tDM2(CC)(Hf)=2823～3255Ma。黑云角闪斜长片麻岩的捕获锆石组成域的εHf(t)(t=2.25Ga)=-19.58～-1.73,tDM1(Hf)=2664～3360Ma,tDM2(CC)(Hf)=2968～4011Ma。结合前人资料,得出如下结论:华北克拉通南缘豫陕晋结合部地区存在一规模较大的约2.3Ga地质体分布区;华北克拉通南缘很可能存在规模巨大的>2.7Ga基底;中部造山带与孔兹岩带具有类似的古元古代晚期构造热事件演化历史。