Variation in Metamorphic Style along the Northern Margin of the Damara Orogen, Namibia |
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Authors: | GOSCOMBE BEN; GRAY DAVID; HAND MARTIN |
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Institution: | 1 CONTINENTAL EVOLUTION RESEARCH GROUP, SCHOOL OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE, ADELAIDE, S.A. 5005, AUSTRALIA
2 SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, PARKVILLE, VIC. 3010, AUSTRALIA |
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Abstract: | The northern margin of the Inland Branch of the Pan-AfricanDamara Orogen in Namibia shows dramatic along-strike variationin metamorphic character during convergence between the Congoand Kalahari Cratons (M3 metamorphic cycle). Low-P contact metamorphismwith anticlockwise PT paths dominates in the westerndomains (Ugab Zone and western Northern Zone), and high-P Barrovianmetamorphism with a clockwise PT path is documented fromthe easternmost domain (eastern Northern Zone). The sequenceof M3 mineral growth in contact aureoles shows early growthof cordierite porphyroblasts that were pseudomorphed to biotitechloritemuscoviteat the same time as an andalusitebiotitemuscovitetransposed foliation was developed in the matrix. The peak-Tmetamorphic assemblages and fabrics were overprinted by crenulationsand retrograde chloritemuscovite. The KFMASH PTpseudosection for metapelites in the Ugab Zone and western NorthernZone contact aureoles indicates tight anticlockwise PTloops through peak metamorphic conditions of 540570°Cand 2·53·2 kbar. These semi-quantitativePT loops are consistent with average PT calculationsusing THERMOCALC, which give a pooled mean of 556 ± 26°Cand 3·2 ± 0·6 kbar, indicating a high averagethermal gradient of 50°C/km. In contrast, the eastern NorthernZone experienced deep burial, high-P/moderate-T Barrovian M3metamorphism with an average thermal gradient of 21°C/kmand peak metamorphic conditions of c. 635°C and 8·7kbar. The calculated PT pseudosection and garnet compositionalisopleths in KFMASH, appropriate for the metapelite sample fromthis region, document a clockwise PT path. Early plagioclasekyanitebiotiteparageneses evolved by plagioclase consumption and the growthof garnet to increasing XFe, XMg and XCa and decreasing XMncompositions, indicating steep burial with heating. The developedkyanitegarnetbiotite peak metamorphic parageneseswere followed by the resorption of garnet and formation of plagioclasemoats, indicating decompression, which was followed by retrogressivecooling and chloritemuscovite growth. The clockwise PTloop is consistent with the foreland vergent foldthrustbelt geometry in this part of the northern margin. Earlier formed(580570 Ma) pervasive matrix foliations (M2) were overprintedby contact metamorphic parageneses (M3) in the aureoles of 530± 3 Ma granites in the Ugab Zone and 553514 Magranites in the western Northern Zone. Available geochronologicaldata suggest that convergence between the Congo and KalahariCratons was essentially coeval in all parts of the northernmargin, with similar ages of 535530 Ma for the main phaseof deformation in the eastern Northern Zone and Northern Platformand 538505 Ma high-grade metamorphism of the CentralZone immediately to the south. Consequently, NNESSW-directedconvergent deformation and associated M3 metamorphism of contrastingstyles are interpreted to be broadly contemporaneous along thelength of the northern margin of the Inland Branch. In the westheat transfer was dominated by conduction and externally drivenby granites, whereas in the east heat transfer was dominatedby advection and internally driven radiogenic heat production.The ultimate cause was along-orogen variation in crustal architecture,including thickness of the passive margin lithosphere and thicknessof the overlying sedimentary succession. KEY WORDS: Pan-African Orogeny; PT paths; pseudosections; low-P metamorphism; contact metamorphism; Barrovian metamorphism |
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Keywords: | : Pan-African Orogeny P T paths pseudosections low-P metamorphism contact metamorphism Barrovian metamorphism |
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