Paleoproterozoic anorogenic granitoids of the Zheltav sialic massif (Southern Kazakhstan): Structural position and geochronology

The basement of the Zheltav sialic massif (Southern Kazakhstan) is composed of different metamorphic rocks united into the Anrakhai Complex. In the southeastern part of the massif, these rocks form a large antiform with the core represented by amphibole and clinopyroxene gneissic granite varieties. By their chemical composition, dominant amphibole (hastingsite) gneissic granites correspond to subalkaline granites, while their petroand geochemical properties make them close to A-type granites. The U–Pb geochronological study of accessory zircons yielded an age of 1841 ± 6 Ma, which corresponds to the crystallization age of melts parental for protoliths of amphibole gneissic granites of the Zheltav Massif. Thus, the structural–geological and geochronological data make it possible to define the Paleoproterozoic (Staterian) stage of anorogenic magmatism in the Precambrian history of the Zheltav Massif. The combined Sm–Nd isotopic—geochronological data and age estimates obtained for detrital zircons indicate the significant role of the Paleoproterozoic tectono-magmatic stage in the formation of the Precambrian continental crust of sialic massifs in Kazakhstan and northern Tien Shan.     

The Late Silurian Age of the Reference Aralaul Granosyenites–Granite Massif (Northern Kazakhstan)

This work presents the results of U–Pb geochronological studies of alkaline granites of the Aralaul complex of Northern Kazakhstan, which allow one to substantiate their Late Silurian (420 ± 4 Ma) age. Taking into consideration the previously obtained data, we propose a new development scheme of Paleozoic granitoid magmatism in Northern Kazakhstan, which includes Late Ordovician granite–granodiorite (Zerenda and Krykkuduk), Early Silurian granite–leucogranite (Borovoe and Karabulak), Late Silurian granosyenites–granite (Aralaul), and Early Devonian (Balkashino and Orlinogorsk) complexes.     

U-Pb age of detrital zircons from neoproterozoic placers of the Erementau-Niyaz massif as a reflection of stages of Precambrian tectono-magmatic evolution of northern Kazakhstan

A typical feature of the Precambrian complexes of the Kokshetau, Ishkeolmess, Erementau-Niyaz, and Aktau-Dzhungaria massifs of Northern and Central Kazakhstan is the presence of the end Mesoproterozoic-beginning of the Neoproterozoic quartzite-schist sequences in these sections. The lower and upper parts of these sequences are mostly composed of schists with interlayers of quartzites and marbles and of quartzitic sandstones, respectively. It is suggested that the quartzite-schist sequences represent the sub-platform cover of a large continental block and were formed in the regressive basin with widely abundant facies of submarine deltas and a littoral shoal. The presence of horizons and the lenses enriched in zircon-rutile heavy concentrate with the amount of accessory minerals of 10-70% characterizes the quartzite-schist sections of the Kokshetau and Erementau-Niyaz massifs. The U-Pb age of zircons from one such locality in the central part of the Erementau-Niyaz massif was analyzed by LA-ICP-MS. The Concordia ages of zircons are in the intervals 1041 ± 13-1519 ± 14, 1623 ± 14-1931 ± 14, and 2691 ± 14-2746 ± 14 Ma. One age was 2850 ± 14 Ma. The age distribution is characterized by clear peaks of 1.08, 1.20. 1.34, 1.46, 1.65, 1.89, and 2.70 Ga and weak peaks of 1.13 and 1.68 Ga. The age of the majority of zircons ranges from 1309 ± 14 to 1519 ± 14 Ma. Our data indicate that mostly Neoproterozoic rocks with a subordinate role of Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean complexes served the feeding sources for the quartzite-schist sequence of the Erementau-Niyaz massif. The Mesoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic events identified for the detrital zircons of the Erementau-Niyaz massif are completely manifested only in Laurentia. In the first approximation, these events coincide with the assembly and breakup of the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent (～1650–1580 and 1450–1380 Ma) and assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent (1300–900 Ma).     

The Lower Ordovician Island-Arc Complex of Northern Kazakhstan: Substantiation of Age and Features of Composition

Doklady Earth Sciences - A complex of schistose volcanogenic and tuffaceous rocks of basalt–rhyolite composition, distinguished as the Dautskaya Formation in the northernmost part of the Shat...     

Late Precambrian Metamorphic Complexes of the Ulutau Massif (Central Kazakhstan): Age,Composition, and Formation Settings of Protoliths

Geotectonics - This work presents the results of a study of metamorphic rocks of the Bekturgan and Balazhezdy groups of the Precambrian Ulutau massif (Central Kazakhstan), which have been...     

The late Tonian Zhaunkar granite complex of the Ulutau sialic massif,Central Kazakhstan

The crystallization age of Zhaunkar granites (829 ± 10 Ma) was determined by U–Pb zircon dating. Taking into account the data obtained earlier on the granite age (791 ± 7 Ma) in the Aktas Complex and the syenite age (673 ± 2 Ma) in the Karsakpai Complex, the Ulutau sialic massif is assumed to be composed of three igneous complexes formed during the Tonian–Cryogenian periods of the Neoproterozoic.     

The Early Cambrian age of intraplate mafic–ultramafic plutons of the Ulutau sialic Massif (Central Kazakhstan)

U–Pb dating of tonalite of the Shaytantas Pluton located within the Ulutau sialic Massif (Central Kazakhstan) has been carried out. Their crystallization age of 521 ± 2 Ma corresponds to the Early Cambrian (boundary of Stages 2 and 3). The obtained geochronological data allow us to identify the Early Cambrian stage of the intraplate magmatic activity in the history of formation of the sialic massifs in the western part of the Central Asian fold belt.     

Cambrian to Lower Ordovician complexes of the Kokchetav Massif and its fringing (Northern Kazakhstan): Structure,age, and tectonic settings

A comprehensive study of the Lower Palaeozoic complexes of the Kokchetav Massif and its fringing has been carried out. It has allowed for the first time to discover and investigate in detail the stratified and intrusive complexes of the Cambrian–Early Ordovician. Fossil findings and isotope geochronology permitted the determination of their ages. The tectonic position and internal structures of those complexes have also been defined and their chemical features have been analyzed as well. The obtained data allowed us to put forward a model of the geodynamic evolution of Northern Kazakhstan in the Late Ediacaran–Earliest Ordovician. The accumulation of the oldest Ediacaran to Earliest Cambrian siliciclastics and carbonates confined to the Kokchetav Massif and its fringing occurred in a shallow shelf environment prior to its collision with the Neoproterozoic Daut island arc: complexes of the latter have been found in the northeast of the studied area. The Early Cambrian subduction of the Kokchetav Massif under the Daut island arc, their following collision and exhumation of HP complexes led to the formation of rugged ground topography, promoting deposition of siliceous–clastic and coarse clastic units during the Middle to early Late Cambrian. Those sediments were mainly sourced from eroded metamorphic complexes of the Kokchetav Massif basement. At the end of the Late Cambrian to the Early Ordovician within the boundaries of the massif with the Precambrian crust, volcanogenic and volcano-sedimentary units along with gabbros and granites with intraplate affinities were formed. Simultaneously in the surrounding zones, which represent relics of basins with oceanic crust, N-MORB- and E-MORB-type ophiolites were developed. These complexes originated under extensional settings occurred in the majority of the Caledonides of Kazakhstan and Northern Tian Shan. In the Early Floian Stage (Early Ordovician) older heterogeneous complexes were overlain by relatively monotonous siliceous–clastic units, that were being deposited until the Middle Darrivilian Stage (Middle Ordovician).     

Sources of Mesoproterozoic igneous rocks and formation time of the continental crust of the Kokchetav Massif (Northern Kazakhstan)

Doklady Earth Sciences - Within the Kokchetav massif (Northern Kazakhstan), Mesoproterozoic granites and acid volcanics are widespread: these are the youngest Precambrian igneous rocks forming...     

Neoproterozoic Age of the Iron Ore Volcanogenic–Sedimentary Series of the Ulutau Terrane (Central Kazakhstan)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The metamorphosed iron ore volcanogenic–sedimentary strata of the Karsakpai series in the eastern Ulutau Precambrian terrane of Central Kazakhstan are studied. The...