Late Paleoproterozoic granulite-facies metamorphism in the North Altyn Tagh area, southeastern Tarim craton: Pressure-temperature paths, zircon U-Pb ages, and tectonic implications

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1591-1606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailin Wu ◽  
Wenbin Zhu ◽  
Rongfeng Ge
Keyword(s):  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Collisional Orogen ◽  
The North ◽  
Altyn Tagh ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Tarim Craton

Abstract Granulite occupies the root of orogenic belts, and understanding its formation and evolution may provide critical information on orogenic processes. Previous studies have mainly focused on garnet-bearing high-pressure and medium-pressure granulites, whereas the metamorphic evolution and pressure-temperature (P-T) paths of garnet-absent, low-pressure granulites are more difficult to constrain. Here, we present zircon U-Pb ages and mineral chemistry for a suite of newly discovered two-pyroxene granulites in the North Altyn Tagh area, southeastern Tarim craton, northwestern China. Conventional geothermobarometry and phase equilibrium modeling revealed that these rocks experienced a peak granulite-facies metamorphism at T = 790–890 °C and P = 8–11 kbar. The mineral compositions and retrograde symplectites record a clockwise cooling and exhumation path, possibly involving near-isothermal decompression followed by near-isobaric cooling. Zircon U-Pb dating yielded a ca. 1.97 Ga metamorphic age, which likely represents the initial cooling age, based on Ti-in-zircon thermometry. Combined with regional geological records, we interpret that these granulites originated from the basement rocks of a late Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc that was subsequently involved in a collisional orogen in the southern Tarim craton, presumably related to the assembly of the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent. The clockwise P-T paths of the granulites record crustal thickening and burial followed by crustal thinning and exhumation in the upper plate of the collisional orogen. Our data indicate that the initial exhumation of this orogen probably occurred no later than ca. 1.97 Ga, which is supported by widespread 1.93–1.85 Ga postorogenic magmatism in this area.

Geology and U–Pb geochronology of the Neoarchean Snare River terrane: tracking evolving tectonic regimes and crustal growth mechanisms

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 895-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venessa Bennett ◽  
Valerie A Jackson ◽  
Toby Rivers ◽  
Carolyn Relf ◽  
Pat Horan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Zircon Crystallization ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Turbidite Sedimentation

U–Pb zircon crystallization ages determined by isotope dilution – thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID–TIMS) and laser ablation microprobe – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LAM–ICP–MS) for 13 intrusive units in the Neoarchean Snare River terrane (SRT) provide tight constraints on the timing of crust formation and orogenic evolution. Seven metaluminous plutons were emplaced over ~80 Ma from ca. 2674 to 2589 Ma, whereas six peraluminous bodies were emplaced in a ~15 Ma interval from ca. 2598 to 2585 Ma. A detrital zircon study yielded an age spectrum with peaks correlative with known magmatic events in the Slave Province, with the ca. 2635 Ma age of the youngest detrital zircon population providing a maximum estimate for the onset of sedimentation. This age contrasts with evidence for pre-2635 Ma sedimentation elsewhere in the SRT, indicating that sedimentation was protracted and diachronous. Evolution of the SRT can be subdivided into four stages: (i) 2674–2635 Ma — formation of a metaluminous protoarc in a tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) – granite–greenstone tectonic regime (TR1) and coeval with early turbidite sedimentation; (ii) 2635–2608 Ma — continued turbidite sedimentation, D1/M1 juxtaposition of turbidites and protoarc lithologies prior to ~2608 Ma, and metaluminous granitoid plutonism; (iii) 2608–2597 Ma — onset of TR2, collision of Snare protoarc with Central Slave Basement Complex, D2/M2 crustal thickening and mid-crustal granulite-facies metamorphism, sychronous with metaluminous and peraluminous plutonism; and (iv) 2597–2586 Ma — orogenic collapse, D3/M3 mid-crustal uplift, granulite-facies metamorphism, and waning metaluminous and peraluminous plutonism. The distribution of igneous rocks yields an "orogenic stratigraphy" with an older upper crust underlain by a younger synorogenic mid-crust. These data can be used to provide constraints for the interpretation of the Slave – Northern Cordillera Lithospheric Evolution (SNORCLE) Lithoprobe transect.

Mineral chemistry and reaction textures in metabasites from the Eastern Ghats belt, India and their implications

1993 ◽  
Vol 57 (386) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somnath Dasgupta ◽  
Pulak Sengupta ◽  
A. Mondal ◽  
M. Fukuoka
Keyword(s):  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Eastern Ghats ◽  
Thermal Perturbation ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Eastern Ghats Belt ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Garnet Granulite ◽  
C 32 ◽  
Enclosing Rocks

AbstractThree types of mafic granulites, namely two pyroxene-plagioclase granutite (MG), two pyroxeneplagioclase-garnet granulite (GMG) and spinel-olivine-plagioclase-two pyroxene granulite (SMG) are exposed at Sunkarimetta, Eastern Ghats belt, India. The marie granulites exhibit a foliation concordant with that in associated granulite facies quartzofeldspathic gneisses. Textural characteristics and mineral chemical data suggest the following mineral reactions: olivine + plagioclase = spinel + orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene (SMG), orthopyroxene + plagioclase = garnet + quartz (GMG), clinopyroxene + plagioclase = garnet + quartz (GMG) and plagioclase + hemoilmenite + quartz = garnet + ilmenite + 02 (GMG). Geothermobarometry indicates maximum P-T conditions of metamorphism at c. 8.5 kbar, 950°C The marie granulites later suffered nearly isobaric cooling to c. 7.5 kbar, 750°C Bulk compositional characteristics suggest that SMG is of cumulate origin. The protoliths of the mafic granulites, emplaced at c. 32 km depth, are probably responsible for thermal perturbation causing granulite facies metamorphism of the enclosing rocks.

Extensional exhumation of a high-pressure granulite terrane in Payer Land, Greenland Caledonides: structural, petrologic, and geochronologic evidence from metapelites

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1169-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A Gilotti ◽  
Synnøve Elvevold
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
High Pressure High Temperature ◽  
High Pressure Granulite ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Southern Half

The Payer Land gneiss complex is unique among the mostly amphibolite-facies, mid-crustal gneiss complexes in the East Greenland Caledonides due to its well-preserved, regional high-pressure (HP) granulite-facies metamorphism. High-pressure – high-temperature (HP–HT) assemblages are recognized in mafic, ultramafic, granitic, and metasedimentary lithologies. Anatectic metapelites contain the assemblage garnet + kyanite + K-feldspar + antiperthite (exsolved ternary feldspar) + quartz ± biotite ± rutile and record approximately the same peak metamorphic conditions (pressure (P) = 1.4–1.5 GPa, temperature (T) = 800–850°C) as those of the neighboring mafic HP granulites. The HP granulite-facies metamorphism is Caledonian based on in situ U–Th–Pb electron microprobe dating of monazite from two samples of the aluminous paragneiss. The monazites are found along garnet–kyanite phase boundaries, as inclusions in garnet and kyanite, and within small leucocratic melt pods (K-feldspar + plagioclase + kyanite ± garnet) within the HP–HT paragneisses. Mylonitic equivalents of the metapelites contain a detrital monazite age signature that suggests the Payer Land paragneisses correlate with other Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary sequences in the area. The gneisses form a metamorphic core complex that is separated from the overlying low-grade sedimentary rocks of the Neoproterozoic Eleonore Bay Supergroup by an extensional detachment. This newly recognized Payer Land detachment is part of a system of prominent extensional faults located in the southern half of the Greenland Caledonides (i.e., south of 76°N). The HP granulites preserve the deepest level of crust exposed in this southern segment of the orogen and attest to significant crustal thickening.

Granulite-facies metamorphism in the Quetico Subprovince, north of Manitouwadge, Ontario

1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1427-1439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanming Pan ◽  
Michael E. Fleet ◽  
Howard R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium Phase ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Thermal Peak ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Peak Event ◽  
High Temperature Metamorphism

A zone of granulites, defined by an orthopyroxene-in isograd and extending more than 100 km in length and about 10 km in width, occurs near the southern margin of the Quetico Subprovince, north of Manitouwadge, Ontario. Mineral assemblages in metasedimentary rocks and associated migmatites consist of quartz, plagioclase, garnet, orthopyroxene, biotite, cordierite, sillimanite, K-feldspar, hercynite, magnetite, ilmenite, and other accessory phases. Minor mafic gneisses and calc-silicate pods or lenses are also present. From equilibrium phase relations and thermobarometry, the granulites experienced a thermal-peak event (4–6 kbar (1 bar = 100 kPa), 680–770 °C, a(H2O) of 0.15–0.25 and fO2 of 1–2 log units above the FMQ buffer) in association with D2 deformation, followed by a retrogression (550–660 °C and 3–4 kbar) and a later hydrothermal alteration (1–2 kbar and 200–400 °C). The distribution and calculated peak metamorphic conditions of the granulite zone in the Quetico Subprovince are similar to those of granulites in the English River Subprovince and other proposed accretionary terranes. The low-pressure, high-temperature metamorphism in the Quetico Subprovince is interpreted to be related to both crustal thickening and addition of heat from subduction-related magmatism.

Granulite-facies metamorphism of the Palaeoproterozoic – early Palaeozoic gneiss domains of NE Mozambique, East African Orogen

2016 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. ENGVIK ◽  
B. BINGEN
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Medium Pressure ◽  
Nappe Complex ◽  
High Pressure Granulite ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Early Palaeozoic

AbstractGranulite-facies metamorphism recorded in NE Mozambique is attributed to three main tectonothermal events, covering more than 1400 Ma from Palaeoproterozoic – early Palaeozoic time. (1) Usagaran–Ubendian high-grade metamorphism of Palaeoproterozoic age is documented in the Ponta Messuli Complex by Grt-Sil-Crd-bearing metapelites, estimated to pressure (P) 0.75 ± 0.08 GPa and temperature (T) 765 ± 96°C. The post-peak P-T path is characterized by decompression followed by near-isobaric cooling. (2) Irumidian medium- to high-pressure granulite-facies metamorphism is evident in the Unango and Marrupa complexes of late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic age. High-pressure granulite-facies is documented by Grt-Cpx-Pl-Rt-bearing mafic granulites in the northwestern part of the Unango Complex, with peak conditions up to P = 1.5 GPa and T = 850°C. Medium-pressure granulite-facies conditions recording P of c. 1.15 GPa and T of 875°C are documented by Grt-Opx-Cpx-Pl assemblage in mafic granulites and charnockitic gneisses of the central part of the Unango Complex. (3) Tectonothermal activity during the Ediacaran–Cambrian Kuunga Orogeny is recorded in the Mesoproterozoic gneiss complexes as amphibolite facies to medium-pressure granulite-facies metamorphism. Granulite facies are documented by Grt-Opx-Cpx-Pl-bearing mafic granulites and charnockitic gneisses, reporting P = 0.99 ± 13 GPa at T = 738 ± 84°C in the Unango Complex and P = 0.92 ± 18 GPa at T = 841 ± 135°C in the Marrupa Complex. This metamorphism is attributed to crustal thickening related to overriding of the Cabo Delgado Nappe Complex, and shorthening along the Lurio Belt during the early Palaeozoic Kuunga Orogeny.

Stable coexistence of grandidierite and kornerupine during medium pressure granulite facies metamorphism

1995 ◽  
Vol 59 (395) ◽  
pp. 327-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Carson ◽  
M. Hand ◽  
P. H. G. M. Dirks
Keyword(s):  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Crustal Thickening ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Larsemann Hills ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Peak Metamorphism ◽  
Isothermal Decompression ◽  
The Stability ◽  
New Occurrences

AbstractPetrological and mineral chemical data are presented for two new occurrences of co-existing borosilicate minerals in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica. The assemblages contain kornerupine and the rare borosilicate, grandidierite (Mg,Fe)A13BSiO9. Two distinct associations occur: (1) At McCarthy Point, 1–10 mm thick tourmaline-kornerupine-grandidierite layers are hosted within quartzofeldspathic gneiss; and (2) Seal Cove, where coexisting kornerupine and grandidierite occur within coarse-grained, metamorphic segregations with Mg-rich cores of cordierite-garnet-spinel-biotite-ilmenite and variably developed plagioclase halos. The segregations are hosted within biotite-bearing, plagio-feldspathic gneiss. Textural relationships from these localities indicate the stability of co-existing kornerupine and grandidierite.The grandidierite- and kornerupine-bearing segregations from Seal Cove largely postdate structures developed during a crustal thickening event (D2) which was coeval with peak metamorphism. At McCarthy Point, grandidierite, kornerupine and late-tourmaline growth predates, or is synchronous, with F3 fold structures developed during a extensive granulite grade, normal shearing event (D3) which occurred prior to, and synchronous with, near-isothermal decompression. Average pressure calculations on assemblages that coexist with the borosilicates at Seal Cove, indicate the prevailing conditions were 5.2–5.5 kbar at ∼ 750°C for formation of the grandidierite-kornerupine assemblage.

Terrane accretion in the internal zone of the Ungava orogen, northern Quebec. Part 2: Structural and metamorphic history

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Lucas ◽  
M. R. St-Onge
Keyword(s):  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Lower Plate ◽  
Superior Province ◽  
Thrust Belt ◽  
Granulite Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Early Proterozoic ◽  
Magmatic Arc ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Transcurrent Deformation ◽  
External Part

The tectonic history of the early Proterozoic Ungava orogen is marked by structural–metamorphic episodes that both predate and postdate a collision between a magmatic arc terrane and the northern continental margin of the Superior Province. Distinct precollisional tectonic histories are documented for the rocks forming the lower plate of the Ungava orogen (the Archean Superior Province basement and an Early Proterozoic rift-to-drift margin sequence) and the orogenic upper plate (Early Proterozoic ophiolitic and magmatic arc units). The lower-plate units preserved in the external part of the orogen (Cape Smith Thrust Belt) record the development of a foreland thrust belt characterized by south-verging faults ramping up from a basal décollement located at the basement–cover contact. The plutonic core of the magmatic arc contains structures and metamorphic assemblages indicative of an episode of dextral transcurrent deformation contemporaneous with granulite-facies metamorphism and arc plutonism. The "tectonically suspect" ophiolitic and arc units were accreted to the thrust belt along south-verging faults, which reimbricated the foreland thrust belt and which resulted in at least 100 km of displacement of upper-plate units with respect to the autochthonous basement. Collisional thickening and consequent exhumation resulted in relatively high-pressure, greenschist- to amphibolite-facies metamorphism of lower-plate cover units, and in the retrogression of high-grade assemblages in the arc rocks. Postaccretion shortening resulted in folding of both the allochthonous rocks and the footwall basement.

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