Chronology of Sanbagawa metamorphism

By collating age data based on the fossil age of the protoliths, radiometric dating of the metamorphic minerals, and sedimentary records of erosion at the earth's surface, the history of the Sanbagawa metamorphism can be summarized as follows. (1) The pre-metamorphic sedimentary rocks (Carboniferous-Jurassic + Early Cretaceous?) became mixed and formed a thickened packet in the vicinity of an ancient trench through a variety of subduction-related tectono-sedimentary processes, probably in Early Cretaceous time (c., 130-120 Ma). (2) The subducted protoliths underwent progressive metamorphism reaching a maximum depth of c. 30 km in late Early Cretaceous time (c. 116 ± 10 Ma). (3) The high-P/T metamorphic rocks began to rise toward the surface (during the interval 110-50 Ma) with minimum estimates for the average cooling rate around 9-12°C/Ma and an average uplift rate around 0.4-0.5 mm/year. (4) Finally, at some stage after reaching the erosional surface, the high-P/T metamorphic rocks were covered unconformably by the middle Eocene (c. 50-42 Ma) Kuma Group. On the basis of the present chronological summary of the Sanbagawa metamorphism, the areal extent of the Sanbagawa metamorphism is also discussed with respect to the weakly metamorphosed subduction-accretion complex of the next tectonic belt to the south, the Northern Chichibu belt.     

Chronology of the high-pressure metamorphism of Norwegian garnet peridotites/pyroxenites

Eclogite facies mineral assemblages are variably preserved in mafic and ultramafic rocks within the Western Gneiss Region (WGR) of Norway. Mineralogical and microstructural data indicate that some Mg–Cr-rich, Alpine-type peridotites have had a complex metamorphic history. The metamorphic evolution of these rocks has been described in terms of a seven-stage evolutionary model; each stage is characterized by a specific mineral assemblage. Stages II and III both comprise garnet-bearing mineral assemblages. Garnet-bearing assemblages are also present in Fe–Ti-rich peridotites which commonly occur as layers in mafic complexes. Sm–Nd isotopic results are reported for mineral and whole rock samples from both of these types of peridotites and related rocks. The partitioning of Sm and Nd between coexisting garnet and clinopyroxene is used to assess chemical equilibrium. One sample of Mg–Cr-type peridotite shows non-disturbed partitioning of Sm and Nd between Stage II garnet and clinopyroxene pairs and yields a garnet–clinopyroxene–whole-rock date of 1703 ± 29 Ma (I= 0.51069, MSWD = 0.04). This is the best estimate for the age of the Stage II high-P assemblage. Other Stage II garnet–clinopyroxene pairs reflect later disturbance of the Sm–Nd system and yield dates in the range 1303 to 1040 Ma. These dates may not have any geological significance. Stage III garnet–clinopyroxene pairs typically have equilibrated Sm–Nd partitioning and two samples yield dates of 437 ± 58 and 511 ± 18 Ma. This suggests that equilibration of the Stage III high-P assemblage is related to the Caledonian orogeny and is more or less contemporaneous with high-P metamorphism of ‘country-rock’eclogites in the surrounding gneisses. The Sm–Nd mineral data for the Fe–Ti-rich garnet peridotites and for a superferrian eclogite, which occurs as a dyke within the Gurskebotn Mg–Cr-type peridotite, are consistent with a Palaeozoic high-P metamorphism. Finally a synoptic P–T–t path is proposed for the Mg–Cr-type peridotites which is consistent with the petrological and geochronological data.     

A white mica crystallinity study of the Berwyn Hills, North Wales

Abstract White mica crystallinity studies have been carried out on 90 samples of mudrocks, six of spotted slate, and five of accretionary lapilli tuff from the area around the Berwyn Hills, North Wales. Strain was measured for some of the spotted slate and tuff samples. The metamorphic grade increases from southeast to northwest, with values of the Kübler index varying from 0.64 to 0.20Δ2θ. Metamorphic zonal boundaries follow the strike of bedding and cleavage, but crystallinity values increase into stratigraphically younger rocks on the northwest side of the Berwyn Dome. This effect is attributed mainly to a rapid increase in the thickness of synmetamorphic overburden to the northwest, comprising exposed Silurian turbidites and inferred Lower Devonian non-marine sediments. Strain variations have a more local influence on crystallinity, and lateral variations in the contemporary geothermal gradient cannot be ruled out. However, only with unrealistically high gradients would the need for a thick Lower Devonian component to the overburden be removed. This reasoning implies that the metamorphic peak was coeval with the Acadian (late Caledonian) event, rather than with an early diastathermal event.     

湘东北长沙—平江断裂动力变质带的构造及地球化学特征

长沙—平江动力变质带是组成湘东北中生代地洼型拉伸构造型式的剥离断层带,其中的糜棱岩是大型韧性滑脱剪切作用的产物。文中重点阐述了糜棱岩的构造及地球化学特征及其成因意义,表明该断裂带的动力变质作用与大规模的地洼岩浆活动有着密切的生成联系,这可能是地洼构造演化的一个重要特征。     

下庄矿田基底的控矿作用及其有关地质问题

本文提出武夷及其邻区存在两个裂陷槽及一裂隆，鹰潭－南城－安远－河源韧性断裂带为东部的火山岩型与西部的花岗岩型铀矿床的地质分界线，指出了加里东运动在本区的突出作用是使裂隆基底岩石发生混合花岗岩化作用。根据下庄矿田及其外围发现较深变质的岩石和较大规模韧性剪切糜棱岩带，得出下庄矿田是古老基底加里东热穹隆区多次构造、岩浆活动的产物。由于铀成矿作用赋存于初、脆性两种构造中，建议重新划分矿化类型以指导勘查工作。     

Multiple intrusions and low-pressure metamorphism in the central Old Woman Mountains, south-eastern California: constraints from thermal modelling

The Old Woman Mountains in south-eastern California are a Late Cretaceous low-pressure metamorphic terrane where multiple magmatic intrusions generated broad regions of elevated metamorphic temperatures. In the Scanlon Gulch area, two sheet-like, Late Cretaceous granitoid plutons are in contact with the Scanlon shear zone, a 1-km-thick sheet of isoclinally folded and transposed metamorphic rocks. The metaluminous Old Woman granodiorite underlies the shear zone and the peraluminous Sweetwater Wash granite overlies it. Both plutons record emplacement ages of ∼74 Ma. Thermobarometry and phase relations in the shear zone suggest that peak metamorphism was at 650 ± 50† C and 4.3 ± 0.5 kbar. Late Cretaceous metamorphic temperatures were less elsewhere in the Old Woman Mountains, away from the intrusions.
One-dimensional thermal models are used to investigate how differences in the time between the emplacement of plutons would affect the thermal evolution of the central Old Woman Mountains. The prediction of a thermal history inferred from petrological and thermochronological data requires the rapid emplacement of the two plutons around the shear zone; simulations with delays of more than 1 Myr in the emplacement of the second pluton failed to predict peak metamorphic temperatures. Calculations which consider only the emplacement of a single pluton yield metamorphic temperatures that are too low. The time separating the intrusions is by far the most sensitive parameter in the calculations; assumptions concerning the treatment of the initial geothermal gradient and the latent heat of crystallization have relatively small effects on the predicted thermal histories. Our results suggest that for certain geometries, relatively short-lived magmatic events involving rapid emplacement of multiple intrusions can produce low-pressure metamorphism.     

变质作用P—T—t轨迹若干问题评述

着重介绍了目前变质作用P－T─t轨迹研究在变质作用温压确定、变质作用不同阶段时间标定、变质作用动态演化过程的组构标志、变质作用演化热模拟以及变质作用P─T─t轨迹与大地构造环境之间关系等方面所存在的若干问题。     

内蒙古东五分子地区韧性剪切变质作用的特征

东五分子地区花岗-绿岩地体经受了三种类型变质作用的改造。韧性剪切带不仅控制了区域变质岩组合的分布,而且也导致其变质作用的强度出现了逆转序列。根据岩石的结构、碎斑含量及矿物成分,韧性剪切变质岩划分为三类,其共同特点是具有碎斑结构。其变形结构分为单矿物型及组合型。同一块韧性剪切变质岩由处在单变平衡的一组矿物组成。根据岩石变形及重结晶的特点,结合其产状,确定出两种不同类型韧性剪切变质带。共生矿物对的研究证明它们形成于地壳不同深度及温度、压力条件。本区的金矿化、运移、沉淀与韧性剪切变质带紧密相关。     

Deformation and metamorphism in the Bard area of the Sesia Lanzo Zone, Western Alps, during subduction and uplift

The structure, microstructure and petrology of a small area close to the village of Bard in Val d'Aosta (Italy) has been studied in detail. The area lies across the contact between the Gneiss Minuti (GM) and the Eclogitic Micaschist (EMS) Complexes of the Lower element of the Sesia portion of the Sesia-Lanzo Zone (Western Alps). Both complexes have undergone high-pressure metamorphism, but the metamorphic assemblages indicate a sudden increase in pressure in going across the contact from the GM to the EMS. Therefore, we interpret the contact as a thrust dividing the lower element of the Sesia into two sub-elements. This interpretation is supported by structural evidence.
The early Alpine (90-70 Ma) metamorphic history is best preserved in the EMS and is one of increasing pressure associated with thrusting. The maximum P/T recorded in the EMS is >1500 MPa (>15kbar) and 550°C and in the GM is < 1500-1300 MPa (< 15-13 kbar) and 500-550°C. We suggest that the rocks were probably in an active Benioff zone during this time.
From then on the histories of the GM and EMS are the same. Deformation continued and the thrust and thrust slices were folded during decreasing pressure. We interpret the first postthrusting deformation in terms of uplift associated with continued shortening of the crust and underplating after the Benioff zone had become inactive and a new Benioff zone had developed further to the north-west.
A still later deformation and the Lepontine metamorphism (38 Ma) are related to continued uplift. Much of this deformation is characterized by structures indicative of vertical shortening and lateral spreading as the mountains rose above the general level of the surface.