(Th+U)-Pb monazite ages from Al-Mg-rich metapelites,Rauer Group,east Antarctica

The age of high-temperature granulite-facies metamorphism (>~800–850 °C) in the Rauer Group, Prydz Bay, east Antarctica, is relevant for establishing the metamorphic and temporal architecture of the Prydz Bay mobile belt. Monazites within Al-Mg-rich granulite-facies metapelites give an overall tanh-estimated Pan-African age of ~511±4 Ma (2) using in-situ electron microprobe-based (Th+U)-Pb chronology, consistent with existing U-Pb zircon geochronology from the Rauer Group and Prydz Bay. Monazite occurs primarily within cordierite-bearing coronae and symplectic mineral reaction textures, and also within biotite. Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism is preferred as responsible for the development of the cordierite-bearing microstructures, and probably (peak) coarse-grained assemblages, constrained using an integrated geologic, geochronologic and metamorphic framework. Thus, Pan-African granulite-facies metamorphism affected the Rauer Group, within the Prydz Bay mobile belt. Moreover, integrated monazite geochronology may be used to decipher the temporal metamorphic histories of potentially complex high-temperature terrains.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article if you access the article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.Editorial responsibility: B. Collins