Metamorphic evolution of exhumed middle to lower crustal rocks in the Mojave Extensional Belt, southern California, USA

The Waterman Metamorphic Complex of the central Mojave Desert was exposed as a consequence of early Miocene detachment-dominated extension. However, it has evidence consistent with a more extensive geological history that involves collision of a crustal fragment(s), tectonic thickening by overthrusting and two periods of extension. The metamorphic complex contains granitoid intrusives and felsic mylonitic gneisses as well as polymetamorphic rocks that include marble, calc-silicate, quartzite. mafic granulite, pyribolite, amphibolite, migmatite and biotite schist. The latter group of rocks was affected by an initial series of high-grade metamorphic events (M1 and M2) and a localized lower grade overprint (M3). The initial metamorphism (M1) can be separated into two stages along its high-grade P–T path: M1a, a granulite facies metamorphism at 800–850° C and 7.5–9 kbar and Mlb, an upper amphibolite facies overprint at 750–800° C and 10–12 kbar. M1a developed mineral assemblages and textures consistent with granulite facies conditions at a reduced activity of H₂O and is associated with intense ductile deformation (D1) and minor local partial melting. M1b overprinted the granulite assemblages with a series of hydrous phases under conditions of increasing pressure and H₂O activity and is accompanied by little or no deformation. M2 developed at lower pressures and temperatures (650–750° C, 4.5–5.5 kbar) and is distinguished by a second local overprint of hydrous phases that reflects an input of aqueous fluids probably associated with the intrusion of a series of granitic dykes and veins. Effects of M3 are confined to the Mitchel detachment zone, an anastomosing early Miocene detachment fault, and are characterized by local ductile/brittle deformation (D2) of the pre-existing high-grade rocks and granitoid intrusives and by the production of mylonites and mylonitic gneisses under greenschist facies conditions (300–350° C, 3–5 kbar). The initial overprint (M1a) represents metamorphism, devolatilization and minor partial melting of supracrustal rocks under granulite facies conditions as a consequence of tectonic and, possibly, magmatic thickening. The increasing pressure transition of M1a to M1b reflects a period of continued compressional tectonism, thrusting and influx of H₂O, in part, locally related to crystallization of partial melts. The near isothermal decompression between M1b and M2 probably represents a pre-112-Ma extensional episode that may have been the result of a decompressional readjustment of a thickened crust. Following the initial extensional event, the metamorphic complex remained at depths of 10–17 km for at least 90 Ma until it was uplifted following Miocene extension. M3 develops locally in response to this second extensional period resulting from the early Miocene detachment faulting.     

Asymmetrically zoned reaction rims: assessment of grain boundary diffusivities and growth rates related to natural diffusion-controlled mineral reactions

This study explores garnet coronas around hedenbergite, which were formed by the reaction plagioclase + hedenbergite→garnet + quartz, to derive information about diffusion paths that allowed for material redistribution during reaction progress. Whereas quartz forms disconnected single grains along the garnet/hedenbergite boundaries, garnet forms ～20‐μm‐wide continuous polycrystalline rims along former plagioclase/hedenbergite phase boundaries. Individual garnet crystals are separated by low‐angle grain boundaries, which commonly form a direct link between the reaction interfaces of the plagioclase|garnet|hedenbergite succession. Compositional variations in garnet involve: (i) an overall asymmetric compositional zoning in Ca, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Al across the garnet layer; and (ii) micron‐scale compositional variations in the near‐grain boundary regions and along plagioclase/garnet phase boundaries. These compositional variations formed during garnet rim growth. Thereby, transfer of the chemical components occurred by a combination of fast‐path diffusion along grain boundaries within the garnet rim, slow diffusion through the interior of the garnet grains, and by fast diffusion along the garnet/plagioclase and the garnet/hedenbergite phase boundaries. Numerical simulation indicates that diffusion of Ca, Al and Fe²⁺ occurred about three to four, four and six to seven orders of magnitude faster along the grain boundaries than through the interior of the garnet grains. Fast‐path diffusion along grain boundaries contributed substantially to the bulk material transfer across the growing garnet rim. Despite the contribution of fast‐path diffusion, bulk diffusion through the garnet rim was too slow to allow for chemical equilibration of the phases involved in garnet rim formation even on a micrometre scale. Based on published garnet volume diffusion data the growth interval of a 20‐μm‐wide garnet rim is estimated at ～10³–10⁴ years at the inferred reaction conditions of 760 ± 50 °C at 7.6 kbar. Using the same parameterization of the growth law, 100‐μm‐ and 1‐mm‐thick garnet rims would grow within 10⁵–10⁶ and 10⁶–10⁷ years respectively.     

The role of heterogeneous strain in the development and preservation of a polymetamorphic record in high-P granulites, western Canadian Shield

Mafic rocks in the Chipman domain of the Athabasca granulite terrane, western Canadian Shield, provide the first well‐documented record of two distinct high‐P granulite facies events in the same domain in this region. Textural relations and the results of petrological modelling (NCFMASHT system) of mafic granulites are interpreted in terms of a three‐stage tectonometamorphic history. Stage 1 involved development of the assemblage Grt + Cpx + Qtz ± Pl (M₁) from a primary Opx‐bearing igneous precursor at conditions of 1.3 GPa, 850–900 °C. Field and microstructural observations suggest that M₁ developed synchronously with an early S₁ gneissic fabric. Stage 2 is characterized by heterogeneous deformation (D₂) and synkinematic partial retrogression of the peak assemblage to an amphibole‐bearing assemblage (M₂). Stage 3 involved a third phase of deformation and a return to granulite facies conditions marked by the prograde breakdown of amphibole (Amph₂) to produce matrix garnet (Grt_3a) and the coronitic assemblage Cpx_3b + Opx_3b + Ilm_3b + Pl_3b (M_3b) at 1.0 GPa, 800–900 °C. M₁ and M_3b are correlated with 2.55 and 1.9 Ga metamorphic generations of zircon, respectively, which were dated in a separate study. Heterogeneous strain played a crucial role in both the development and preservation of these rare examples of multiple granulite facies events within single samples. Without this fortuitous set of circumstances, the apparent reaction history could have incorrectly led to an interpretation involving a single‐cycle high‐grade event. The detailed P–T–t–D history constructed for these rocks provides the best evidence to date that much of the east Lake Athabasca region experienced long‐term lower crustal residence from 2.55 to 1.9 Ga, and thus the region represents a rare window into the reactivation and ultimate stabilization processes of cratonic lithosphere.     

冀西北麻粒岩区早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架

本文通过年代学资料和其它地质依据建立了冀西北及邻区麻粒岩地体早前寒武纪主要地质事件的年代格架。早期的基性火山喷发事件发生在2868—2932Ma期间,形成本区的早期地壳。在2761Ma左右发生了大规模的TTG岩浆侵位事件,在2650Ma时发生了基性岩浆侵位,使地壳加厚。在2561—2503Ma期间,花岗闪长质岩浆在本区广泛侵入,使地壳进一步加厚。2477—2461Ma期间,紫苏花岗岩以岩株形式侵入,同时发生区域麻粒岩相变质,早期地壳受到改造。大约在2300Ma时发生第二阶段的麻粒岩相变质。此后,在2144—2087Ma期间红色花岗岩侵位,形成花岗岩带。     

大同—怀安麻粒岩地体的伸展抬升

大同－怀安地区ＴＴＧ片麻岩和孔兹岩系早期具有互不相同的，但双彼此相关的构造和演压历史。它们之间的低角度高应变带以正韧性剪切和非共轴变形为特征，体出了构造接触的性质。构造和岩石学数据表明，该地体至少在２．５Ｇａ和１．８Ｇａ前后分别受到两个麻粒岩相变质事件的影响，其主要的构造是在Ｍ１事件中形成的。     

Quantitative elemental mapping of granulite-facies monazite: Textural insights and implications for petrochronology

Texturally complex monazite grains contained in two granulite-facies pelitic migmatites from southern Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, were mapped by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (using spot sizes ≤5 µm) to quantitatively determine the spatial variation in trace element chemistry (with up to 1,883 analyses per grain). The maps highlight the chemical complexity of monazite grains that have experienced multiple episodes of growth, resorption and chemical modification by dissolution–precipitation during high-grade metamorphism. Following detailed chemical characterization of monazite compositional zones, a related U–Pb data set is re-interpreted, allowing petrologically significant ages to be extracted from a continuum of concordant data. Synthesis of these data with pseudosection modelling of prograde and peak conditions allows for the temporal evolution of monazite trace element chemistry to be placed in the context of the evolving P–T conditions and major phase assemblage. This approach enables a critical evaluation of three commonly used petrochronological indicators: linking Y to garnet abundance, the Eu anomaly to feldspar content and Th/U to anatectic processes. Europium anomalies and Th/U behave in a relatively systematic fashion, suggesting that they are reliable petrochronological witnesses. However, Y systematics are variable, both within domains interpreted to have grown in a single event, between grains interpreted to be part of the same age population, and between samples that experienced similar metamorphic conditions and mineral assemblages. These observations caution against generalized petrological interpretations on the basis of Y content, as it suggests Y concentrations in monazite are controlled by domainal equilibria. The results reveal a c. 45 Myr interval between prograde metamorphism and retrograde melt crystallization in the study area, emphasizing the long-lived nature of heat flow in high-grade metamorphic terranes. Such long timescales of metamorphism would be assisted by the growth, retention and dominance of high-Th suprasolidus monazite, as observed in this study, contributing to the radiogenic heating budget of mid- to lower-crustal environments. Careful characterization of monazite grains suggests that continuum-style U–Pb data sets can be decoded to provide insights into the duration of metamorphic processes.     

Constraints on the timing and conditions of high‐grade metamorphism,charnockite formation and fluid–rock interaction in the Trivandrum Block,southern India

Incipient charnockites have been widely used as evidence for the infiltration of CO₂‐rich fluids driving dehydration of the lower crust. Rocks exposed at Kakkod quarry in the Trivandrum Block of southern India allow for a thorough investigation of the metamorphic evolution by preserving not only orthopyroxene‐bearing charnockite patches in a host garnet–biotite felsic gneiss, but also layers of garnet–sillimanite metapelite gneiss. Thermodynamic phase equilibria modelling of all three bulk compositions indicates consistent peak‐metamorphic conditions of 830–925 °C and 6–9 kbar with retrograde evolution involving suprasolidus decompression at high temperature. These models suggest that orthopyroxene was most likely stabilized close to the metamorphic peak as a result of small compositional heterogeneities in the host garnet–biotite gneiss. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the heterogeneities were inherited from the protolith or introduced during syn‐metamorphic fluid flow. U–Pb geochronology of monazite and zircon from all three rock types constrains the peak of metamorphism and orthopyroxene growth to have occurred between the onset of high‐grade metamorphism at c. 590 Ma and the onset of melt crystallization at c. 540 Ma. The majority of metamorphic zircon growth occurred during protracted melt crystallization between c. 540 and 510 Ma. Melt crystallization was followed by the influx of aqueous, alkali‐rich fluids likely derived from melts crystallizing at depth. This late fluid flow led to retrogression of orthopyroxene, the observed outcrop pattern and to the textural and isotopic modification of monazite grains at c. 525–490 Ma.     

高压下华北北缘二辉麻粒岩电导率的研究

借助于YJ-3000t紧装式六面顶固体高压设备,在1.0~2.0 GPa、523~1173 K条件下,利用Agilent 34401A数字电表和Solartron IS-1260阻抗-增益/相位分析仪,同时使用三种方法:交流阻抗谱法(频率范围0.05~106 Hz)、单频交流法(0.1 Hz)和直流法测量了华北北缘二辉麻粒岩的电导率.结果表明:在实验的温度和压力范围内,二辉麻粒岩电导率的变化在2.66×10-5~0.056 S·m-1之间,电导率对压力没有很强的依赖性;随着温度的升高,电导率增大,遵循Arrenhius关系式,其指前因子为8.95~17.9 S·m-1,活化能为0.569~0.605 eV.对比三种方法获得的电导率数据,发现阻抗谱法测量结果大于单频法测量结果,直流法测得的结果最低,但是,三种方法获得的电导率差值除两个低温点外,绝大多数都很小(Δlgσ<0.20 lg(S/m)).结合现今华北克拉通地热学参数及地壳分层结构,依据实验获得的电导率温度关系建立了电导率-深度剖面.并将其与大地电磁测深获得的地壳电性结构进行了对比,结果表明二辉麻粒岩的电导率与华北北缘的中地壳底部和下地壳底部电导率值的区域相交,再结合高温高压下二辉麻粒岩的弹性波速度剖面与地震折射剖面的对比,认为二辉麻粒岩有可能是组成华北北缘下地壳的岩石之一.     

鲁苏榴辉岩套的特征及其动力学演化

鲁苏榴辉岩套以广泛分布各类榴辉岩、密切伴生石榴石橄榄岩、石榴石麻粒岩等高压岩石组合 ,普遍发育韧性变形带 ,大量出露燕山晚期碱性花岗岩及深源脉岩为特征。它已经历三迭纪早期华南陆块与华北陆块的碰撞事件、大陆逆掩推覆构造事件及后期白垩纪早期开始的大陆伸展构造事件 ,是我国华南陆块与华北陆块之间的重要过渡单元。     

华北太古宙高压基性麻粒岩的两类PT轨迹及其构造意义:矿物化学和变质作用研究

在华北克拉通桑干构造带中,分布有许多太古宙高压基性麻粒岩,呈大小不等的岩块产于强烈变形的TTG片麻岩、二辉麻粒岩、混合岩和花岗岩中.高压麻粒岩富含石榴石斑晶,斑晶内部钙铝榴石含量明显高于边缘,一般可达25%～28%.许多石榴石含有单斜辉石包体,A12O3含量高达7.4%～11.2%,相应的契尔马克分子比例为12%～18%.这些成分特征指示了早期相对较高的变质压力.石榴石斑晶广泛发育后成合晶反应边,是Pl-Opx-Amp-Mt组合的放射状细粒交生体,邻接的单斜辉石和石榴石斑晶边缘与后成合晶组合近于反应平衡,单斜辉石Al2O3含量小于5%,石榴石边缘的钙铝榴石含量也大大低于核部.这些都显示了压力较低条件下石榴石和单斜辉石的分解.温度压力的计算结果揭示出高压麻粒岩的两类PT轨迹,它们早期的变质作用都表现出较高的压力(1.2～1.45GPa).一部分高压麻粒岩具有顺时针的PT轨迹,并显示升温减压和近等温减压过程.它们很可能形成于晚太古代某种型式的俯冲和碰撞构造过程.另一部分高压麻粒岩具有逆时针的PT轨迹,显示降温降压过程,并且早期变质温度高达1050C.它们很可能来自碰撞之前的岛弧下地壳底部.在碰撞阶段的后期,这些不同成因的高压麻粒岩都被卷入了与碰撞构造直接相关的桑干构造带,经历共同的构造抬升过程.桑干构造带可以认为是构造缝合带.