The metahyaloclastitic matrix of a unique metavolcanic block reveals subduction in the Somozas Mélange (Cabo Ortegal Complex,NW Iberia): tectonic implications for the assembly of Pangea

The allochthonous Cabo Ortegal Complex (NW Iberian Massif) contains a ~500 m thick serpentinite‐matrix mélange located in the lowest structural position, the Somozas Mélange. The mélange occurs at the leading edge of a thick nappe pile constituted by a variety of terranes transported to the East (present‐day coordinates; NW Iberian allochthonous complexes), with continental and oceanic affinities, and represents a Variscan suture. Among other types of metaigneous (calcalkaline suite dated at 527–499 Ma) and metasedimentary blocks, it contains close‐packed pillow‐lavas and broken pillow‐breccias with a metahyaloclastitic matrix formed by muscovite–paragonite–margarite–garnet–chlorite–kyanite–hematite–epidote–quartz–rutile. Pseudosection modelling in the MnCNTKFMASHO system indicates metamorphic peak conditions of ~17.5–18 kbar and ~550 °C followed by near‐isothermal decompression. This P–T evolution indicates subduction/accretion of an arc‐derived section of peri‐Gondwanan transitional crust. Subduction below the Variscan orogenic wedge evolved to continental collision with important dextral component. Closure of the remaining oceanic peri‐Gondwanan domain and associated release of fluid led to hydration of the overlying mantle wedge and the formation of a low‐viscosity subduction channel, where return flow formed the mélange. The submarine metavolcanic rocks were deformed and detached from the subducting transitional crust and eventually incorporated into the subduction channel, where they experienced fast exhumation. Due to the cryptic nature of the high‐P metamorphism preserved in its tectonic blocks, the significance of the Somozas Mélange had remained elusive, but it is made clear here for the first time as an important tectonic boundary within the Variscan Orogen formed during the late stages of the continental convergence leading to the assembly of Pangea.     

Metamorphic petrology of a high‐T/low‐P granulite terrane (Damara belt,Namibia) – Constraints from pseudosection modelling and high‐precision Lu–Hf garnet‐whole rock dating

Migmatites comprise a minor volume of the high‐grade part of the Damara orogen of Namibia that is dominated by granite complexes and intercalated metasedimentary units. Migmatites of the Southern Central Zone of the Damara orogen consist of melanosomes with garnet+cordierite+biotite+K‐feldspar, and leucosomes, which are sometimes garnet‐ and cordierite‐bearing. Field evidence, petrographic observations, and pseudosection modelling suggest that, in contrast to other areas where intrusion of granitic magmas is more important, in situ partial melting of metasedimentary units was the main migmatite generation processes. Pseudosection modelling and thermobarometric calculations consistently indicate that the peak‐metamorphic grade throughout the area is in the granulite facies (~5 kbar at ~800°C). Cordierite coronas around garnet suggest some decompression from peak‐metamorphic conditions and rare andalusite records late, near‐isobaric cooling to <650°C at low pressures of ~3 kbar. The inferred clockwise P–T path is consistent with minor crustal thickening through continent–continent collision followed by limited post‐collisional exhumation and suggests that the granulite facies terrane of the Southern Central Zone of the Damara orogen formed initially in a metamorphic field gradient of ~35–40°C/km at medium pressures. New high‐precision Lu–Hf garnet‐whole rock dates are 530 ± 13 Ma, 522.0 ± 0.8 Ma, 520.8 ± 3.6 Ma, and 500.3 ± 4.3 Ma for the migmatites that record temperatures of ~800°C. This indicates that high‐grade metamorphism lasted for c. 20–30 Ma, which is compatible with previous estimates using Sm–Nd garnet‐whole rock systematics. In previous studies on Damara orogen migmatites where both Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf chronometers have been applied, the dates (c. 520–510 Ma) agree within their small uncertainties (0.6–0.8% for Sm–Nd and 0.1–0.2% for Lu–Hf). This implies rapid cooling after high‐grade conditions and, by implication, rapid exhumation at that time. The cause of the high geothermal gradient inferred from the metamorphic conditions is unknown but likely requires some extra heat that was probably added by intrusion of magmas from the lithospheric mantle, i.e., syenites that have been recently re‐dated at c. 545 Ma. Some granites derived from the lower crust at c. 545 Ma are the outcome rather than the cause of high‐T metamorphism. In addition, high contents of heat‐producing elements K, Th, and U may have raised peak temperatures by 150–200°C at the base of the crust, resulting in the widespread melting of fertile crustal rocks. The continuous gradation from centimetre‐scale leucosomes to decametre‐scale leucogranite sheets within the high‐grade metamorphic zone suggests that leucosome lenses coalesced to form larger bodies of anatectic leucogranites, thereby documenting a link between high‐grade regional metamorphism and Pan‐African magmatism. In view of the close association of the studied high‐T migmatites with hundreds of synmetamorphic high‐T granites that invaded the terrane as metre‐ to decametre‐wide sills and dykes, we postulate that crystallization of felsic lower crustal magma is, at least partly, responsible for heat supply. Late‐stage isobaric cooling of these granites may explain the occurrence of andalusite in some samples.     

Triassic to Early Jurassic (c. 200 Ma) UHP metamorphism in the Central Rhodopes: evidence from U–Pb–Th dating of monazite in diamond‐bearing gneiss from Chepelare (Bulgaria)

Evidence for ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphism (UHPM) in the Rhodope metamorphic complex comes from occurrence of diamond in pelitic gneisses, variably overprinted by granulite facies metamorphism, known from several areas of the Rhodopes. However, tectonic setting and timing of UHPM are not interpreted unanimously. Linking age to a metamorphic stage is a prerequisite for reconstruction of these processes. Here, we use monazite in diamond‐bearing gneiss from Chepelare (Bulgaria) to date the diamond‐forming UHPM event in the Central Rhodopes. The diamond‐bearing gneiss comes from a strongly deformed, lithologically heterogeneous zone (Chepelare Mélange) sandwiched between two migmatized orthogneiss units, known as Arda‐I and Arda‐II. Diamond, identified by Raman micro‐spectroscopy, shows the characteristic band mostly centred between 1332 and 1330 cm^?1. The microdiamond occurs as single grains or polyphase diamond + carbonate inclusions, rarely with CO₂. Thermodynamic modelling shows that garnet was stable at UHP conditions of 3.5–4.6 GPa and 700–800 °C, in the stability field of diamond, and was re‐equilibrated at granulite facies/partial melting conditions of 0.8–1.2 GPa and 750–800 °C. The texture of monazite shows older central parts and extensive younger domains which formed due to metasomatic replacement in solid residue and/or overgrowth in melt domains. The monazite core compositions, with distinctly lower Y, Th and U contents, suggest its formation in equilibrium with garnet. The U–Th–Pb dating of monazite using electron microprobe analysis yielded a c. 200 Ma age for the older cores with low Th, Y, U and high La/Nd ratio, and a c. 160 Ma age for the dominant younger monazite enriched in Th, Y, U and HREE. The older age of c. 200 Ma is interpreted as the timing of UHPM, whereas the younger age of c. 160 Ma as granulite facies/partial melting overprint. Our results suggest that UHPM occurred in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic time, in the framework of collision and subduction of continental crust after the closure of Paleotethys.     

Early Carboniferous blueschist facies metamorphism in metapelites of the West Sudetes (Northern Saxothuringian Domain,Bohemian Massif)

The metamorphic evolution of micaschists in the north‐eastern part of the Saxothuringian Domain in the Central European Variscides is characterized by the early high‐pressure M1 assemblage with chloritoid in cores of large garnet porphyroblasts and a Grt–Chl–Phe–Qtz ± Pg M2 assemblage in the matrix. Minerals of the M1–M2 stage were overprinted by the low‐pressure M3 assemblage Ab–Chl–Ms–Qtz ± Ep. Samples with the best‐preserved M1–M2 mineralogy mostly appear in domains dominated by the earlier D1 deformation phase and are only weakly affected by subsequent D2 overprint. Thermodynamic modelling suggests that mineral assemblages record peak‐pressure conditions of ≥18–19 kbar at 460–520 °C (M1) followed by isothermal decompression 10.5–13.5 kbar (M2) and final decompression to <8.5 kbar and <480 °C (M3). The calculated peak P–T conditions indicate a high‐pressure/low‐temperature apparent thermal gradient of ～7–7.5 °C km^?1. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry isotopic dating and electron microprobe chemical dating of monazite from the M1–M2 mineral assemblages give ages of 330 ± 10 and 328 ± 6 Ma, respectively, which are interpreted as the timing of a peak pressure to early decompression stage. The observed metamorphic record and timing of metamorphism in the studied metapelites show striking similarities with the evolution of the central and south‐western parts of the Saxothuringian Domain and suggest a common tectonic evolution along the entire eastern flank of the Saxothuringian Domain during the Devonian–Carboniferous periods.     

Modelling grain‐recycling zoning during metamorphism

Chemical zoning, recorded by grain growth during metamorphism, is a key source of information about P–T–t paths. Interpretation of these data must be carried out using appropriate models and recognizing their inherent assumptions. To assist with defining how zoned minerals form, a set of geometric criteria for three types of chemical zoning developed in minerals (diffusion, growth and grain recycling) is outlined. Re‐equilibration of minerals by lattice diffusion causes zoning if the re‐equilibration is incomplete. Growth of porphyroblasts is commonly considered in pelites, but in metagranitoids, large monophase domains undergo coarsening by recycling of material from one grain to another as grain boundaries migrate driven by surface energy. This type of grain size increase is termed here ‘grain recycling’. Zoning developed during grain recycling due to equilibration of the recycled material with grain‐boundary chemistry is termed ‘grain‐recycling zoning’. Furthermore, short lattice diffusion lengths relative to grain sizes cause metamorphic fractionation because material in the grain cores is not in communication thermodynamically with the rest of the rock. A new model is derived for this sort of grain size increase coupled with metamorphic reactions using Theriak–Domino. An example is given of plagioclase undergoing an increase in anorthite content as epidote breaks down during amphibolite facies metamorphism of a metagranitoid. Agreement between naturally occurring zoning profiles and those derived from modelled P–T–t paths shows that this model can be used to extract metamorphic conditions from rocks which are not accessible using conventional thermobarometry.     

鄂尔多斯盆地西南地区蓟县系古地温演化历史及岩浆热事件的影响

深层油气成藏机理研究的首要前提是要明确烃源岩的热演化历史,这对区域油气勘探潜力的评价有着重要的指导意义。鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘蓟县系烃源岩在中生代以来的热演化史有何特征,是否受早白垩世岩浆热作用的影响,影响程度如何等问题的不明确,制约着人们对该地区中元古界烃源岩的生烃潜力的认识及进一步勘探开发的思路。通过对安口—铜城地区出露的三叠系、侏罗系及铜城岩体进行磷灰石裂变径迹、磷灰石/锆石(U-Th)/He测试,结合镜质组反射率数据,分别恢复了该地区沉积岩在中三叠世以来和侵入岩在早白垩世以来的冷却历史,结合岩浆岩体的空间分布特征和泥页岩镜质组反射率,估算蓟县系烃源岩古地温。热年代学模拟表明,蓟县系烃源岩自中生代以来先后经历了三叠纪—侏罗纪的正常埋深增温,达到了生烃温度门限,自早白垩世约130～110 Ma开始冷却,其中个别样品表现为自始新世中期至45 Ma微弱加速冷却,中新世晚期至8 Ma以来快速冷却。研究表明,中晚侏罗世是鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘蓟县系生烃的关键时期,烃源岩处于主生油温度范围,之后的早白垩世晚期岩浆侵入事件的热作用范围有限,对蓟县系烃源岩古地温的影响仅发生在局部地区。鄂尔多斯盆地西南缘...     

钦-杭成矿带南段(广东廉江)南和地区区域地质特征及构造演化分析

南和地区位于钦-杭成矿带南段的广东廉江幅范围内,该地区的地质特征记录了钦-杭结合带南段的构造演化过程。根据对地层沉积建造的统计,发现研究区沉积地层形成的水动力环境主要为滨海相、浅海相和深海相3种海相沉积以及少量河流相与沼泽相沉积。研究区的岩浆活动具有明显的多期多阶段特征,总体可划分为加里东期和燕山期两个大的构造岩浆旋回。从研究区的岩性变化可以得到南和地区的变质作用规律,岩浆的参与程度因迁移距离的增加而降低,导致距离越远的变质作用与岩浆的关系越低,形成了变质程度逐级降低的混合岩→片岩→千枚岩(图幅外)→变质砂岩。上述区域地质特征反映南和地区主体经历了伸展-挤压地质演化过程,也指示了钦-杭成矿带南段与北段、中段具有类似的大地构造演化历史,即整体"两开、三合"历程。     

兴蒙造山带东南缘黄松群中压型变质作用及其构造意义:岩石学、矿物学和年代学证据

本文报道了兴蒙造山带东南缘黄松群代表性岩石的岩相学、矿物化学成分和黑云母40Ar/39Ar定年结果,以确定它们的变质作用类型、变质温压条件、变质时代及其构造意义。岩相学研究表明黄松群主要由黑云斜长片麻岩、二云斜长片岩、斜长角闪片岩等代表性岩石以及不同类型的糜棱岩所组成。前者往往呈规模较小的面状分布,反映了主期区域动热变质作用,后者主要呈条带状分布,反映了后期低温动力变质作用的叠加与改造。此外,在与侵入体接触处产出的红柱石角岩反映了局部接触变质作用的存在。对黄松群代表性岩石的温压条件计算结果表明,该群主期变质作用的温压范围分别为525~597℃和5.8~7.5kb,地热梯度集中在21~27℃/km,揭示出黄松群中压型(绿帘角闪岩相-低角闪岩相)变质作用的存在。对含石榴二云斜长片岩中黑云母40Ar/39Ar定年结果为239.22±3.02Ma,而黑云母糜棱岩中黑云母的40Ar/39Ar定年结果为193.91±2.16Ma,结合黑云母的封闭温度和研究区已有的年代学资料,认为前者反映黄松群中压型变质作用的时代为晚二叠世-早三叠世,而后者反映黄松群经历的后期低温动力变质作用发生在早侏罗世。结合区域上同时代变质作用、岩浆作用以及沉积建造特征和区域构造演化历史,认为黄松群晚二叠世-早三叠世中压型变质作用与华北板块与西伯利亚板块碰撞拼合的地球动力学背景有关,该期变质作用标志着古亚洲洋东段的最终闭合已经完成。     

华北东南缘前寒武纪下地壳的生长和变质演化

华北陆块东南缘前寒武纪下地壳岩石主要以高级变质地体或麻粒岩地体和中生代闪长斑岩中(麻粒岩)捕虏体两种形式存在,它们为研究该区前寒武纪下地壳的形成和演化提供了极好的天然实验室。变质地体主要分布于霍邱和蚌埠地区,包括原"霍邱群"(霍邱杂岩)及"五河群"和"凤阳群"(五河杂岩)等。其中,霍邱杂岩主要由白云斜长片麻岩、石英岩、云母片岩、大理岩、变质砂岩、条带状铁建造(BIF)和斜长角闪岩等组成,但地表已被第四纪覆盖;五河杂岩主要含有石榴斜长角闪岩/榴闪岩、石榴麻粒岩、异剥钙榴岩、石榴斜长角闪片麻岩、花岗片麻岩、云母片岩、大理岩和变质砂岩等变质岩。相比较,五河杂岩大多出露地表,主要由变质的镁铁质和长英质火成岩以及表壳岩系组成,并伴生有古元古代片麻状钾长花岗岩和中生代花岗岩类,构成了"蚌埠隆起"。这些不同类型的变质岩常具有类似的峰期变质矿物,如石榴子石、单斜辉石、斜长石、金红石和石英等,结合其锆石U-Pb年龄,表明它们大多数都经历了古元古代高压麻粒岩相变质作用。综合的变质岩石学、岩石地球化学、Hf同位素及锆石U-Pb年代学研究表明,该区前寒武纪下地壳经历了幕式生长以及多阶段变质演化与改造。强烈的构造-热事件和变质改造时间主要集中于2.7~2.8Ga、2.5~2.6Ga、~2.1Ga、1.8~1.9Ga、390Ma和176Ma,而前寒武纪下地壳的形成时间≥2.1Ga。在综述、分析相关成果的基础之上,作者提出了华北东南缘前寒武纪下地壳变质岩石研究方面存在的重要科学问题与展望。     

东天山白鑫滩铜镍矿锆石U-Pb年代学、地球化学特征及对Ni-Cu找矿的启示

白鑫滩铜镍矿床位于觉罗塔格构造岩浆带内,岩体走向受大草滩断裂控制,目前矿床规模达中型。含矿岩体侵入于中奥陶统恰干布拉克组,直接围岩为英安岩和火山角砾凝灰岩,主要岩石类型为辉长岩、橄榄辉石岩和辉石橄榄岩,岩石由中心向两侧基性程度逐渐降低,岩体产状平缓,主要赋矿岩相为辉石橄榄岩相,矿体多呈似层状或透镜状。含长辉石橄榄岩中锆石La-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果为(277.9±2.6)Ma,表明岩体形成于早二叠纪。以24号勘探线为界,岩体西段矿石Cu/Ni比值普遍高于岩体东段矿石。样品中Mg O与Fe OT呈正相关关系,与Ca O、Si O2和Ti O2呈负相关关系,样品m/f值为2.43~3.9,为铁质系列超镁铁岩,有利于铜镍矿的形成;样品稀土元素配分型式为轻稀土略富集的右倾型,轻、重稀土元素之间分馏程度较弱,具有弱的负Eu异常;富集大离子亲石元素,而相对亏损高场强元素,有明显的Nb、Ta负异常。岩浆演化过程中主要发生了橄榄石和辉石的分离结晶/堆晶作用,并遭受了少量中—下地壳物质混染,岩浆源区遭受了明显的俯冲流体交代作用。白鑫滩矿床形成时代及构造背景与黄山东、黄山、香山等典型矿床一致,是图拉尔根—黄山东—土墩铜镍矿带的西延部分,该铜镍矿带向西仍有较大的铜镍找矿潜力,大草滩断裂可能也是该区重要的控岩控矿断裂。