Geologic history of the Archean Buhwa Greenstone Belt and surrounding granite–gneiss terrane, Zimbabwe, with implications for the evolution of the Limpopo Belt

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1977-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Fedo ◽  
Kenneth A. Eriksson ◽  
Tom G. Blenkinsop
Keyword(s):  
Greenstone Belt ◽  
Marginal Zone ◽  
Sedimentary Cover ◽  
Granite Gneiss ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Geologic History ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Zimbabwe Craton ◽  
Limpopo Belt

The Buhwa Greenstone Belt (BGB) of southern Zimbabwe is the only major greenstone belt in the Archean Zimbabwe Craton directly adjacent to the granulite-facies rocks that constitute the Northern Marginal Zone of the Limpopo Belt. The deformational history and assembly of the BGB shed light on the evolution of the Northern Marginal Zone – Zimbabwe Craton transition. Assembly of the region began with deposition of the dominantly sedimentary cover succession at ~3.0 Ga on banded gneisses of the ~3.5 Ga Tokwe segment. At ~2.9 Ga the northern margin of the greenstone belt experienced kilometres of ductile, oblique-slip, dextral shearing. This shear zone was later intruded by the granitic to tonalitic ~2.9 Ga Chipinda batholith. The remaining events recognized in the region occurred during the time span 2.9–2.5 Ga. Northwest-directed thrusting of the Northern Marginal Zone over the Zimbabwe Craton took place along a collection of discrete, typically metre-wide shear zones, which collectively form the tectonic break between the Zimbabwe Craton and the Northern Marginal Zone. In response to thrusting, the cover succession and surrounding granitoids were folded and underwent regional greenschist-facies metamorphism. Two suites of potassic granites were emplaced north and south of the greenstone belt towards the end of thrusting. Plutonism was followed by conjugate faulting and later filling of the fractures by the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe. The youngest events may have occurred between ~2.5 and ~2.0 Ga, and include sinistral shearing along the southern margin of the belt, transecting cleavage formation, and open folding as a result of northeast-directed crustal shortening.

A terrane interpretation of the Archaean Limpopo Belt

1993 ◽  
Vol 130 (6) ◽  
pp. 755-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Rollinson
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Kaapvaal Craton ◽  
Late Archaean ◽  
The North ◽  
Zimbabwe Craton ◽  
Marginal Zones ◽  
Limpopo Belt

AbstractThe Limpopo Belt is a zone of thickened Archaean crust whose origin is currently explained by a late Archaean continent-continent collision between the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons. This review shows that the two cratons have fundamentally different geological histories and that the Zimbabwe Craton was unlikely to have behaved as a stable ‘cratonic’ block at the time of the Limpopo Belt collision. The geological histories of the Zimbabwe Craton, the North Marginal, Central and South Marginal zones of the Limpopo Belt and the Kaapvaal Craton are shown to be sufficiently different from one another to warrant their consideration as discrete terranes. The boundaries between the five units outlined above are all major shear zones, further supporting a terrane model for the Limpopo Belt. The five units were all intruded by late- to syn-tectonic granites c.2.6 Ga, constraining the accretion event to c. 2.6 Ga.

scholarly journals Outline of the Nagssugtoqidian mobile belt of East Greenland

1979 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 9-18
Author(s):  
D Bridgwater ◽  
J.S Myers
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Tectonic Activity ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
The North ◽  
Marginal Areas ◽  
High Level ◽  
North And South ◽  
Wide Zone

The Nagssugtoqidian mobile belt is a 240 km wide zone of deformation and plutonic activity which cuts across the Archaean craton of East Greenland. The belt was established 2600 m.y. ago by the formation of vertical E-W shear zones and the syntectonic intrusion of basic dykes. Tectonic activity along the E-W shear zones was followed by the emplacement of tonalitic intrusions, the Blokken gneisses, 2350 m.y. ago in the central parts of the mobile belt. The emplacement of the Blokken gneisses was accompanied and followed by further emplacement of basic dykes. These are synplutonic in the centre of the mobile belt but are emplaced into more rigid crust in the marginal areas of the belt and in the Archaean craton to the north and south. During a second major tectonic and thermal episode circa 1900 m.y. ago, the region was deformed by thrusting from the north. In the southem part of the mobile belt the earlier steep shear zones are cut by shear zones dipping gently northwards in which rocks are downgraded to greenschist facies. The grade of metamorphism increases northwards and shear zones are replaced by open folds with axial surfaces which dip gently northwards. The increasing ductility in the centre of and northem part of the belt is associated with the intrusion of charnockitic plutons and their granulite facies aureoles. Regional uplift occurred before the intrusion of high level post-tectonic plutons of diorite and granite 1550 m.y. ago.

Composition, structure and tectonic analysis of the Shangrimuce arc-continent collision zone on the northern margin of the Central Qilian, NW China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyuan Zhang ◽  
Zhibin Lei ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
Haijun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Oceanic Lithosphere ◽  
Late Ordovician ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Qilian Mountain ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Early Ordovician ◽  
Collision Zone ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Back Arc

<p>A 1:50000 regional survey, covering an area of about 2000 km<sup>2</sup>, was carried out in the Shangrimuce area of Qilian Mountain in Northwest China. The results show that during Caledonian, the northern margin of the Central Qilian block experienced collision with mature island arcs and subsequently northward expansion. In the Shangrimuce study area, five geological units have been identified; they are, form south to north, back-arc basin, early Ordovician island arc, inter arc basin, middle Late Ordovician island arc, and fore-arc and oceanic lithosphere amalgamation zone. </p><p>(1) back-arc basin. In the Yangyuchi- Shule River- Cuorigang- Wawusi area, there may be a back-arc spreading basin, and there should be spreading basins in this area. It is speculated that there was a northward reverse subduction in the late Ordovician, accompanied by a syenite body, a broad spectrum dyke swarms and an accretionary wedge zone in the whole area.</p><p>(2) early Ordovician island arc. In the Shangrimuce-Dander area, the Proterozoic basement granitic gneiss, the early Ordovician island arc block and the high-pressure geological body all occur in the form of thrust horses, forming a double metamorphic belt, which reveals the existence of ocean subduction to south in the early Ordovician. </p><p>(3) inter arc basin. On both banks of Tuolai River to the east of Yanglong Township, there are early Middle Ordovician inter-arc basins with oceanic crust. </p><p>(4) middle Late Ordovician island arc. To the north of Tuolai River, there is a middle Late Ordovician island arc belt. Both sides of the island arc zone experienced strong ductile shear deformation, which recorded a complex arc-continent collision. </p><p>(5) fore-arc and oceanic lithosphere amalgamation zone (Fig.1). The Yushigou area has developed a fore-arc and oceanic lithospheric amalgamation zone, with weakly deformed fore-arc flysch basin, strongly deformed siliceous rocks, pillow Basalt, diabase, gabbro, peridotite and other rock assemblages.</p><p>Combined with the characteristics of arc-continent collision zone in the Western Pacific, there are two stages of shear zone series (Fig.2). One is ductile shear zones formed by the South dipping gneissic belt, revealing the existence of oceanic subduction accretion wedge and emplacement of high-pressure rocks. Another superimposed one is north dipping. This indicates that the arc-continent collision caused by back-arc reverse subduction, which ultimately controls the overall geometric and kinematic characteristics of the shear zones in the region.</p><p><img src="https://contentmanager.copernicus.org/fileStorageProxy.php?f=gepj.8219836ca50067454890161/sdaolpUECMynit/12UGE&app=m&a=0&c=40b3389c641f2d0ca723e1527c32927e&ct=x&pn=gepj.elif&d=1" alt=""></p><p>Figure 1 United sections showing a Caledonian trench-arc system in the Qilian Mountain, NW China.</p><p><img src="https://contentmanager.copernicus.org/fileStorageProxy.php?f=gepj.8def566da50066084890161/sdaolpUECMynit/12UGE&app=m&a=0&c=e82258ecc235c4e618abd6c035b58232&ct=x&pn=gepj.elif&d=1" alt=""></p><p>Figure 2 Structural analysis at Hongyahuo, indicating two stages of deformation.</p><p>The research has been supported by projects from the Ministry of Land and Resources (No.201211024-04; 1212011121188) and the 2020 undergraduate class construction project from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (No. HHSKE202003).</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals A revised map of volcanic units in the Oman ophiolite: insights into the architecture of an oceanic proto-arc volcanic sequence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Belgrano ◽  
Larryn W. Diamond ◽  
Yves Vogt ◽  
Andrea R. Biedermann ◽  
Samuel A. Gilgen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Sedimentary Cover ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Magma Ascent ◽  
Upper Crust ◽  
Vms Deposits ◽  
Geochemical Analyses ◽  
Semail Ophiolite

Abstract. Recent studies have revealed genetic similarities between Tethyan ophiolites and oceanic proto-arc sequences formed above nascent subduction zones. The Semail ophiolite (Oman–U.A.E.) in particular can be viewed as an analogue for this proto-arc crust. Though proto-arc magmatism and the mechanisms of subduction-initiation are of great interest, insight is difficult to gain from drilling and limited surface outcrops in submarine fore-arcs. In contrast, the Semail ophiolite, in which the 3–5 km thick upper-crustal succession is exposed in an oblique cross-section, presents an opportunity to assess the architecture and volumes of different volcanic rocks that form during the protoarc stage. To determine the distribution of the volcanic rocks and to aid exploration for the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits that they host, we have re-mapped the volcanic units of the Semail ophiolite by integrating new field observations, geochemical analyses and geophysical interpretations with pre-existing geological maps. By linking the major element compositions of the volcanic units to rock magnetic properties, we were able to use aeromagnetic data to infer the extension of each outcropping unit below sedimentary cover, resulting in in a new map showing 2100 km2 of upper-crustal bedrock. Whereas earlier maps distinguished two main volcanostratigraphic units, we have distinguished four, recording the progression from early spreading-axis basalts (Geotimes) through to axial to off-axial depleted basalts (Lasail), to post-axial tholeiites (Tholeiitic Alley) and finally boninites (Boninitic Alley). Geotimes (Phase 1) axial dykes and lavas make up ~55 vol% of the Semail upper crust, whereas post-axial (Phase 2) lavas constitute the remaining ~ 45 vol % and ubiquitously cover the underlying axial crust. The Semail boninites occur as discontinuous accumulations up to 2 km thick at the top of the sequence and constitute ~ 15 vol % of the upper crust. The new map provides a basis for targeted exploration of the gold-bearing VMS deposits hosted by these boninites. The thickest boninite accumulations occur in the Fizh block, where magma ascent occurred along crustal-scale faults that are connected to shear zones in the underlying mantle rocks, which in turn are associated with economic chromitite deposits. Locating major boninite feeder zones may thus be an indirect means to explore for chromitites in the underlying mantle.

Geochronology of the Hout River Shear Zone and the metamorphism in the Southern Marginal Zone of the Limpopo Belt, Southern Africa

2001 ◽  
Vol 109 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 145-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Kreissig ◽  
L Holzer ◽  
R Frei ◽  
I.M Villa ◽  
J.D Kramers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Marginal Zone ◽  
Southern Marginal Zone ◽  
Limpopo Belt

Proterozoic geological evolution of the northern Vestfold Hills, Antarctica

1991 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. Passchier ◽  
R. F. Bekendam ◽  
J. D. Hoek ◽  
P. G. H. M. Dirks ◽  
H. de Boorder
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Granulite Facies ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Amphibolite Facies ◽  
Tectonic Event ◽  
Vestfold Hills ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Brittle Faulting

AbstractThe presence of polyphase shear zones transected by several suites of dolerite dykes in Archaean basement of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica, allows a detailed reconstruction of the local structural evolution. Archaean and early Proterozoic deformation at granulite facies conditions was followed by two phases of dolerite intrusion and mylonite generation in strike-slip zones at amphibolite facies conditions. A subsequent middle Proterozoic phase of brittle normal faulting led to the development of pseudotachylite, predating intrusion of the major swarm of dolerite dykes around 1250 Ma. During the later stages and following this event, pseudotachylite veins were reactivated as ductile, mylonitic thrusts under prograde conditions, culminating in amphibolite facies metamorphism around 1000–1100 Ma. This is possibly part of a large-scale tectonic event during which the Vestfold block was overthrust from the south. In a final phase of strike-slip deformation, several pulses of pseudotachylite-generating brittle faulting alternated with ductile reactivation of pseudotachylite.

A Discussion on natural strain and geological structure - Archaean deformation patterns in southern Africa

1976 ◽  
Vol 283 (1312) ◽  
pp. 313-331 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zones ◽  
Geological Structure ◽  
Mobile Belt ◽  
Deformation Pattern ◽  
Strain Measurements ◽  
Regional Deformation ◽  
Greenstone Belts ◽  
Extension Direction ◽  
Orogenic Belts ◽  
Limpopo Belt

Strain measurements have been made to help quantify the intensity of deformation and amount of displacement across Archaean greenstone belts in Rhodesia and Botswana and across the gneisses of the Limpopo mobile belt. The area has been divided into three domains based on the orientation of the finite strain fabric and the orientation of the maximum extension direction in associated shear zones. The domains are considered to have different movement patterns and to be similar to small orogenic belts. Early deformation within the greenstone belts accompanied the intrusion of the diaipric granites, but there was also bulk translation and rotation of greenstone belt and gneiss leading to imbrication of the stratigraphic pile and the formation of large nappes of overturned rock. This was followed by regional phases of deformation which affected all the greenstone belts and the gneisses of the Limpopo belt. Detailed strain measurements show a variation in amount of shortening during this phase, from under 30 % across the Shabani-Bellingwe belt in central Rhodesia, to over 60 % across the Tati and Matsitama belts in northern Botswana. Many local variations in intensity of deformation occur within large ductile shear zones and deviations from plane strain may be partly due to such rotational deformation. The regional deformation pattern suggests that there was movement of the Rhodesian craton approximately 200 km to the southwest relative to the gneisses of the Limpopo belt, producing a dominantly flattening deformation in the southwest of Rhodesia, but dominantly simple shear with a nearly horizontal sinistral movement, in the southeast.

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