Multi-stage metamorphism of the South Altyn ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, West China: insights into tectonic evolution from continental subduction to arc–backarc extension

Author(s):  
Jie Dong ◽  
Chunjing Wei

Abstract The South Altyn ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt is claimed to host the deepest subducted continental crust based on the discovery of former stishovite, and thus can provide unique insights into the tectonic evolution from deep continental subduction and exhumation to arc–backarc extension. In this paper, we present detailed studies of petrography, mineral chemistry, phase equilibria modelling and zircon U-Pb dating for three representative samples involving garnet amphibolite (A1531 & A1533) and associated garnet-biotite gneiss (A1534) from the UHP belt. Three phases of metamorphism are inferred for the rocks. The first phase high pressure (HP)–UHP-type eclogite facies is represented by the mineral assemblages of garnet and phengite inclusions in zircon and garnet cores with the high grossular (XGrs = 0.33–0.34). The Si contents of 3.40–3.53 and 3.24–3.25 p.f.u. in phengite inclusions yield pressure conditions of >1.7–2.3 GPa for A1533 and 2.5–2.55 GPa for A1534 at a fixed temperature of 770 °C. The second phase medium-pressure (MP)-type overprinting of garnet amphibolite facies shows P–T conditions of 0.8–1.2 GPa/750–785 °C based on the stability fields of corresponding mineral assemblages, the measured isopleths of Ti contents in biotite and amphibole cores, and XGrs in garnet. The third phase low-pressure (LP) type overprinting includes early-stage heating to peak granulite facies followed by cooling towards a late-stage amphibolite facies. The peak granulite facies is represented by the high Ti amphibole mantle, high Zr titanite and the intergrowths of clinopyroxene + ilmenite in A1533 & A1531, with P–T conditions of 800–875 °C/0.80–0.95 GPa. The late-stage is defined by the solidus assemblages, giving P–T conditions of 0.5–0.7 GPa/720–805 °C. U-Pb geochronology on metamorphic zircons from A1533 and A1534 gives three ages of c. 500 Ma, c. 482 Ma and c. 460 Ma. They are interpreted to represent the HP–UHP, MP and LP types of metamorphism respectively, based on cathodoluminescence images, mineral inclusions and trace element patterns. Combining the regional geology and metamorphic evolution from the Altyn Orogen, a tectonic model is inferred, including the following tectonic scenarios. The small Altyn Microcontinent was subducted to great mantle depths with dragging of the surrounding vast oceanic lithosphere to undergo the HP–UHP eclogite facies metamorphism during the early subduction stage (c. 500 Ma) of the Proto-Tethys Ocean. Then, the subducted slabs were exhumed to a thickened crust region to be overprinted by the MP-type assemblages at c. 482 Ma. Finally, an arc–backarc extension was operated within the thickened crust region due to the retreat of subduction zones. It caused evident heating and the LP-type metamorphic overprinting at c. 460 Ma, with a fairly long interval of 30–40 Myr after the HP–UHP metamorphism, distinct from the short interval of <5–10 Myr in the Bohemian Massif.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghoon Kwon ◽  
Vinod O. Samuel ◽  
Yungoo Song ◽  
Sung Won Kim ◽  
Seung-Ik Park ◽  
...  

AbstractEquilibrium omphacite-garnet-bearing mafic rocks have been classified as eclogites, either pristine or retrogressed, that were formed at great depths in the lithosphere. Here we report a unique natural example of eclogite resembling assemblage in disequilibrium formed through fluid-induced metasomatic reactions under the amphibolite to granulite facies. Primarily, the amphibolized protolith experienced a garnet-amphibolite facies metamorphism at ~ 500–700 °C and ~ 0.8–1 GPa. Subsequently, CO2 fluid induced fracturing and dissolution-reprecipitation reactions occurred at peak metamorphic conditions of ~ 700 °C and ~ 1 GPa. Occasional omphacite-albite assemblage, which gradually replace diopside-oligoclase symplectite adjacent to albite veins along fractures, indicates fluid-induced coupled dissolution-reprecipitation disequilibrium reactions. Here the albite-omphacite assemblage is in local equilibrium at least on 1 mm length scale, during cooling, below ~ 600 ºC and ~ 1 GPa, within the amphibolite facies conditions. The results from this study clearly suggest that disequilibrium garnet-omphacite assemblage in mafic rocks could be formed by crustal reworking processes below granulite facies conditions, and their textural equilibrium is an important criterion while defining eclogite facies.


1968 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Katz

SUMMARYThe Pre-Cambrian rocks of the Grenville province of south-west Quebec in the Mont Tremblant Park area consists of granulites and associated gneisses formed under granulite facies conditions which are intruded by members of an anorthosite suite. At the contacts of these intrusives especially the late-stage members, the granulites and gneisses were found to be retrograded into rocks with mineral assemblages typical of the amphibolite facies. The transformation of the granulite facies rocks into rocks of lower amphibolite grade can be attributed to local introduction of water which was supplied during the emplacement and crystallization of this late-stage, volatile-enriched magma of the anorthosite suite.


Author(s):  
A. Livingstone

SummaryA garnet-olivine metaperidotite and a garnet-amphibole pyroxenite are described. Chemical analyses are presented for six rocks and optical properties and chemical analyses are tabulated for clinopyroxene, almandine-pyrope garnet, and hastingsitie amphibole from the garnet-amphibole pyroxenite. A possible origin for the garnet peridotite and chemically similar granulite facies ultramafic rocks is suggested. The eclogite facies in South Harris is reinstated in the light of the data presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Xu Kong ◽  
Xueyuan Qi ◽  
Wentian Mi ◽  
Xiaoxin Dong

We report zircon U–Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopic data from two sample of the retrograded eclogite in the Chicheng area. Two groups of the metamorphic zircons from the Chicheng retrograded eclogite were identified: group one shows characteristics of depletion in LREE and flat in HREE curves and exhibit no significant Eu anomaly, and this may imply that they may form under eclogite facies metamorphic condition; group two is rich in HREE and shows slight negative Eu anomaly indicated that they may form under amphibolite facies metamorphic condition. Zircon Lu-Hf isotopic of εHf from the Chicheng eclogite has larger span range from 6.0 to 18.0, which suggests that the magma of the eclogite protolith may be mixed with partial crustal components. The peak eclogite facies metamorphism of Chicheng eclogite may occur at 348.5–344.2 Ma and its retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite fancies may occur at ca. 325.0 Ma. The Hongqiyingzi Complex may experience multistage metamorphic events mainly including Late Archean (2494–2448 Ma), Late Paleoproterozoic (1900–1734 Ma, peak age = 1824.6 Ma), and Phanerozoic (495–234 Ma, peak age = 323.7 Ma). Thus, the metamorphic event (348.5–325 Ma) of the Chicheng eclogite is in accordance with the Phanerozoic metamorphic event of the Hongqiyingzi Complex. The eclogite facies metamorphic age of the eclogite is in accordance with the metamorphism (granulite facies or amphibolite facies) of its surrounding rocks, which implied that the tectonic subduction and exhumation of the retrograded eclogite may cause the regional metamorphism of garnet biotite plagioclase gneiss.


2000 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. KRABBENDAM ◽  
A. WAIN ◽  
T. B. ANDERSEN

The Western Gneiss Region of Norway is a continental terrane that experienced Caledonian high-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. Most rocks in this terrane show either peak-Caledonian eclogite-facies assemblages or are highly strained and equilibrated under late-Caledonian amphibolite-facies conditions. However, three kilometre-size rock bodies (Flatraket, Ulvesund and Kråkenes) in Outer Nordfjord preserve Pre-Caledonian igneous and granulite-facies assemblages and structures. Where these assemblages are preserved, the rocks are consistently unaffected by Caledonian deformation. The three bodies experienced high-pressure conditions (20–23 kbar) but show only very localized (about 5%) eclogitization in felsic and mafic rocks, commonly related to shear zones. The preservation of Pre-Caledonian felsic and mafic igneous and granulite-facies assemblages in these bodies, therefore, indicates widespread (∼ 95%) metastability at pressures higher than other metastable domains in Norway. Late-Caledonian amphibolite-facies retrogression was limited. The degree of reaction is related to the protolith composition and the interaction of fluid and deformation during the orogenic cycle, whereby metastability is associated with a lack of deformation and lack of fluids, either as a catalyst or as a component in hydration reactions. The three bodies appear to have been far less reactive than the external gneisses in this region, even though they followed a similar pressure–temperature evolution. The extent of metastable behaviour has implications for the protolith of the Western Gneiss Region, for the density evolution of high-pressure terranes and hence for the geodynamic evolution of mountain belts.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiahui Qian

<p>Ductile shear zones <span>usually record mineralogical and isotopic changes that are not apparent in the surrounding host rocks and thus may preserve a complete evolutionary record in a single locale from relatively undeformed to highly deformed rocks. </span>The Zhujiafang ductile shear zone is situated in the central Hengshan Complex, a key area for understanding the Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the Trans-North China Orogen, North China Craton. Detailed metamorphic and geochronological analyses were carried out on metapelite and garnet amphibolite from the Zhujiafang ductile shear zone. The metapelite preserves two phases of mineral assemblages: early kyanite-rutile-bearing assemblage and late chlorite-staurolite-bearing assemblage in garnet–mica schist, and inclusion-type muscovite (high-Si) + kyanite assemblage and late sillimanite-bearing assemblage in sillimanite–mica gneiss. Garnet in the metapelite occasionally exhibits pronounced two-stage zoning characteristic of a diffusion core with irregular pyrope (X<sub>py</sub>) and grossular (X<sub>gr</sub>) contents and a growth rim with X<sub>py</sub> and X<sub>gr</sub> increasing outwards. The isopleths of the maximum X<sub>gr</sub> in garnet core and Si content in inclusion-type muscovite in the P–T pseudosections suggest that the early mineral assemblages underwent medium-high-pressure type metamorphism with pressures up to 12–14 kbar at 700–750 °C. The late assemblages and the growth zoning of garnet rim predict a late separated clockwise P–T path with peak conditions of 6.5 ± 0.2 kbar/620 ± 10 °C (medium-low-pressure type). The garnet amphibolite is mainly composed of garnet, hornblende, plagioclase, ilmenite and quartz, without overprinting of late mineral assemblages except for localized corona textures. Phase modeling suggests that the rock has experienced high-amphibolite facies metamorphism with peak conditions of 10.5 ± 0.8 kbar/770 ± 50 °C, which is broadly consistent with the early-phase metamorphism of metapelite. Zircon U–Pb dating on metapelite yields two metamorphic age groups of 1.96–1.92 Ga and 1.87–1.86 Ga which are interpreted to represent the timing of the two separated phases of metamorphism. Two separated orogenic events may have occurred respectively at ~1.95 Ga and ~1.85 Ga in the Hengshan–Wutai area. The older orogeny was resulted from continental collision and the younger one may be caused by within-plate deformation. The final exhumation of the high-grade rocks formed in the older (i.e. 1.95 Ga) orogeny should be related with the younger deformation/metamorphic event. For more details, please refer to <span>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2019.02.001.</span></p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 329-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Zhao ◽  
P. D. Bons ◽  
G. Wang ◽  
A. Soesoo ◽  
Y. Liu

Abstract. Conflicting interpretations of the > 500 km long, east-west trending Qiangtang Metamorphic Belt have led to very different and contradicting models for the Permo-Triassic tectonic evolution of Central Tibet. We define two metamorphic events, one that only affected Pre-Ordovician basement rocks and one subduction-related Triassic high-pressure metamorphism event. Detailed mapping and structural analysis allowed us to define three main units that were juxtaposed due to collision of the North and South Qiangtang terranes after closure of the Ordovician-Triassic ocean that separated them. The base is formed by the Precambrian-Carboniferous basement, followed by non-metamorphic ophiolitic mélange, containing mafic rocks that range in age from the Ordovician to Middle Triassic. The top of the sequence is formed by strongly deformed sedimentary mélange that contains up to > 10 km size rafts of both un-metamorphosed Permian sediments and high-pressure blueschists. We propose that the high-pressure rocks were exhumed from underneath the South Qiangtang Terrane in an extensional setting caused by the pull of the northward subducting slab of the Shuanghu-Tethys. High-pressure rocks, sedimentary mélange and margin sediments were thrust on top of the ophiolitic mélange that was scraped off the subducting plate. Both units were subsequently thrust on top of the South Qiantang Terrane continental basement. Onset of Late Triassic sedimentation marked the end of the amalgamation of both Qiangtang terranes and the beginning of spreading between Qiantang and North Lhasa to the south, leading to the deposition of thick flysch deposits in the Jurassic.


Author(s):  
S. P. Das Gupta

SummaryIn the south-eastern part of the Khetri copper belt, actinolite occurs in association with alteration assemblages resulting from the Fe-Mg metasomatism that accompanied sulphide mineralization, and more commonly with albite-bearing rocks formed by albitization of quartzites and schists near granitic rocks. Within the latter occur many coarse, massive, and unoriented aggregates of actinolite crystals, individuals being commonly more than 10 cm long. Locally fluorite-bearing veins oecur within granitic and albite-quartz rocks. The actinolite is pleochroic from pale pink to green; γ: [001] = 26°; γ = 1·642 ± 0·003; 2Vα = 80°. The composition of the analysed actinolite closely compares with those published in the literature excepting in (OH), which is low. The mineral assemblages, formed by metasomatic replacement of pre-existing rocks, are equivalent to those of albite-epidote-amphibolite facies. The metasomatic fluid was apparently rich in Ca, F (indicated by fluorite), and oxygen (indicated by magnetite, ilmenite, and hematite).


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