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.     

Metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high-grade rocks from the central Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: crustal recycling of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material during the Pan-African orogeny

New data on the metamorphic petrology and zircon geochronology of high‐grade rocks in the central Mozambique Belt (MB) of Tanzania show that this part of the orogen consists of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was structurally reworked during the Pan‐African event. The metamorphic rocks are characterized by a clockwise P–T path, followed by strong decompression, and the time of peak granulite facies metamorphism is similar to other granulite terranes in Tanzania. The predominant rock types are mafic to intermediate granulites, migmatites, granitoid orthogneisses and kyanite/sillimanite‐bearing metapelites. The meta‐granitoid rocks are of calc‐alkaline composition, range in age from late Archean to Neoproterozoic, and their protoliths were probably derived from magmatic arcs during collisional processes. Mafic to intermediate granulites consist of the mineral assemblage garnet–clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz–biotite–amphibole ± K‐feldspar ± orthopyroxene ± oxides. Metapelites are composed of garnet‐biotite‐plagioclase ± K‐feldspar ± kyanite/sillimanite ± oxides. Estimated values for peak granulite facies metamorphism are 12–13 kbar and 750–800 °C. Pressures of 5–8 kbar and temperatures of 550–700 °C characterize subsequent retrogression to amphibolite facies conditions. Evidence for a clockwise P–T path is provided by late growth of sillimanite after kyanite in metapelites. Zircon ages indicate that most of the central part of the MB in Tanzania consists of reworked ancient crust as shown by Archean (c. 2970–2500 Ma) and Palaeoproterozoic (c. 2124–1837 Ma) protolith ages. Metamorphic zircon from metapelites and granitoid orthogneisses yielded ages of c. 640 Ma which are considered to date peak regional granulite facies metamorphism during the Pan‐African orogenic event. However, the available zircon ages for the entire MB in East Africa and Madagascar also document that peak metamorphic conditions were reached at different times in different places. Large parts of the MB in central Tanzania consist of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic material that was reworked during the Pan‐African event and that may have been part of the Tanzania Craton and Usagaran domain farther to the west.     

Neoproterozoic accretionary and collisional events on the western margin of the Siberian craton: new geological and geochronological evidence from the Yenisey Ridge

The geological, structural and tectonic evolutions of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt are discussed in the context of the western margin of the Siberian craton during the Neoproterozoic. Previous work in the Yenisey Ridge had led to the interpretation that the fold belt is composed of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks comprising an Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement with an unconformably overlying Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic cover, which was mainly metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions. Based on the existing data and new geological and zircon U–Pb data, we recognize several terranes of different age and composition that were assembled during Neoproterozoic collisional–accretional processes on the western margin of the Siberian craton. We suggest that there were three main Neoproterozoic tectonic events involved in the formation of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt at 880–860 Ma, 760–720 Ma and 700–630 Ma. On the basis of new geochronological and petrological data, we propose that the Yeruda and Teya granites (880–860 Ma) were formed as a result of the first event, which could have occurred in the Central Angara terrane before it collided with Siberia. We also propose that the Cherimba, Ayakhta, Garevka and Glushikha granites (760–720 Ma) were formed as a result of this collision. The third event (700–630 Ma) is fixed by the age of island-arc and ophiolite complexes and their obduction onto the Siberian craton margin. We conclude by discussing correlation of these complexes with those in other belts on the margin of the Siberian craton.     

柯树背岩体的副矿物特征及地质意义

本文详细研究了柯树背岩体的岩石学及副矿物学特征，研究发现F9大断裂以西部分(西体)与F9大断裂以东部分(东体)在岩性、矿物组成、副矿物特征、锆石群型特征上存在很大差别，副矿物特征、锆石群型特征指示东体与寨背岩体类似，为同熔系列花岗岩；西体为重熔再生岩浆成因的改造型花岗岩。这一认识对于该区的铀金找矿具有一定的指导意义。     

辽东地区连山关岩体锆石U-Pb一致线年龄特征及其意义

本文以连山关花岗岩体为例，指出该区古老花岗岩体2种锆石可以作出3组U-Pb一致线交点年龄，分析了这3组年龄间的相互关系及其所代表的意义，并提出一种可能求出岩体上限年龄的方法。     

Mineralization Ages of the Jiapigou Gold Deposits,Jilin

The Jiapigou gold deposits are typical vein type deposits associated withArchaean greenstone belts in China. According to the crosscutting relationships between dykesand auriferous veins, single hydrothermal zircon U-Pb dating and quartz K-Ar,~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar andRb-Sr datings, the main mineralization stage of the Jiapigou deposit has been determined to be2469-2475 Ma, while mineralization superimposition on the gold deposit occurred in1800-2000 Ma and 130-272 Ma. They form a mineralization framework of one oldermetallogenic epoch (Late Archaean-Early Proterozoic) and one younger metallogenic epoch(Mesozoic) of gold deposits in Archaean greenstone belts in China.     

湖北蕲春花岗岩类锆石SHRIMP年龄：大别山造山带内弱变质—未变质晋宁期花岗岩类的发现

蕲春花岗质杂岩体包括斑状二长花岗岩和花岗岩两部分,它们之间在化学性质上存在着很大的差异,前者表现为高Al 2O3(15.73%)、相对高CaO(2.46%)、Na2O含量明显高于K2O(Na2O/K2O=1.27),尤以强烈亏损重稀土元素和极强的轻、重稀土元素分馏程度[(La/Yb)N=46.8]为特征而类似于太古宙高Al2O3的TTG岩石.而后者则以较低的Al2O3含量(14.05%)、贫CaO(0.82%)、K2O含量明显高于Na2O(Na2O/K2O=0.81)为特征,轻、重稀土元素的分馏程度[(La/Yb)N=10.89]也较片麻状二长花岗岩中弱得多.两类岩石中锆石的U-PbSHRIMP年龄分别为824.6±17.6 Ma和784±20 Ma,该时代与大别山造山带内花岗片麻岩的原岩形成年龄类似.大别山造山带内弱变质-未变质晋宁期花岗岩的出现表明扬子板块印支期向北俯冲时,该花岗质杂岩处于俯冲板片的后缘,可代表造山带内扬子基底的原地露头.而岩体周围的高压变质杂岩应是折返上来的无根构造岩片,大别山造山带内高压超高压变质杂岩的出露不是整体性抬升剥蚀的结果.     

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.     

裂变径迹长度测量标准化研究——锆石蚀刻标准探讨

通过不同时间蚀刻的锆石径迹长度测量,确定海南迅速冷却火山型锆石的水平封闭径迹(HCT)平均长度L＝10.93 μm,标准偏差为0.93 μm,可作为锆石长度测量的参照标准.对锆石的蚀刻标准进行了探讨,确立垂直C轴的表面径迹宽度Dpar为(1.0±0.5)μm的蚀刻标准,要求Dpar>1 μm和Dpar<1 μm的颗粒数应大致相当,以及封闭径迹宽度DHCT<1.0 μm的测量标准.     

北京云蒙山片麻状花岗岩锆石SHRIMP定年及其地质意义

应用锆石SHRIMP定年方法对云蒙山片麻状花岗岩进行年代学研究 ,得到 4组年龄 :14 4± 4Ma、16 0～ 16 3Ma、193～ 2 18Ma和 2 4 16Ma。其中 14 4± 4Ma代表了云蒙山岩体的侵位时间 ,16 0～ 16 3Ma和 193～ 2 18Ma两组年龄可能是岩浆侵位过程中捕虏锆石的年龄。 2 4 16Ma与Davis等的锆石U_Pb法上交点年龄 (190 0～ 2 4 0 0Ma)一致 ,可能反映了原岩的时代 ,说明该花岗岩来源于晚太古代片麻岩的局部熔融或者是岩浆侵位过程中捕获了晚太古代的锆石。