Los mármoles cálcicos de El Escorial (Complejo Metamórfico Cushamen, Macizo Norpatagónico): caracterización isotópica de 87Sr-86Sr y edad de sedimentación

The El Escorial marbles (Cushamen Metamorphic Complex) along with amphibolites form metamorphic septa within the permian granitoids of the Mamil Choique Formation (261-286 Ma). The metamorphism, determined in granulite facies migmatic gneisses septa cropping out 120 km southwest of El Escorial, occurs at 311 ± 27 Ma (CHIME method in monazite). The marbles are calcitic (calcite > 95%, R.I.: 0.5 to 2.5%) and show 87Sr/86Sr values between 0.70768 and 0.70825 (n = 10). The data provided in this work, added to previous contributions, allow to constraints the sedimentation age of the silicic-carbonate successions of the Cushamen Metamorphic Complex between ca. 385 and 335 Ma. This suggests the existence of a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic platform at least in the southernmost portion of southwestern Gondwana between Middle Devonian and early Carboniferous (Middle Mississippian).

Progressive Low-Grade Metamorphism Reconstructed from the Raman Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Material and an EBSD Analysis of Quartz in the Sanbagawa Metamorphic Event, Central Japan

Low-grade metamorphic temperature conditions associated with the Sanbagawa metamorphic event were estimated by the Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material (RSCM) in pelitic rocks and an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis of the quartz in siliceous rocks. Analytical samples were collected from the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex, the Mikabu greenstones, and the Chichibu accretionary complex in the eastern Kanto Mountains, central Japan. Previously, low-grade Sanbagawa metamorphism was only broadly recognized as pumpellyite–actinolite facies assigned to the chlorite zone. The RSCM results indicate metamorphic temperatures of 358 °C and 368 °C for the chlorite zone and 387 °C for the garnet zone of the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex, 315 °C for the Mikabu greenstones, and 234–266 °C for the Chichibu accretionary complex. From the EBSD analyses, the diameter of the quartz grains calculated by the root mean square (RMS) approximation ranges from 55.9 to 69.0 μm for the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex, 9.5 to 23.5 μm for the Mikabu greenstones, and 2.9 to 7.3 μm for the Chichibu accretionary complex. The opening angles of the c-axis fabric approximate 40–50°, presenting temperatures of 324–393 °C for the Sanbagawa metamorphic complex and the Mikabu greenstones. The temperature conditions show a continuous increase with no apparent gaps from these low-grade metamorphosed rocks. In addition, there exists an empirical exponential relationship between the estimated metamorphic temperatures and the RMS values of the quartz grains. In this study, integrated analyses of multiple rock types provided valuable information on progressive low-grade metamorphism and a similar approach may be applied to study other metamorphic complexes.

Chemical and Boron Isotope Composition of Tourmaline from Pegmatites and their Host Rocks, Sierra de San Luis, Argentina

ABSTRACT We report chemical and B-isotope analyses of tourmaline from Ordovician S-type granites, an aplite, LCT-type (lithium-cesium-tantalum) pegmatites, and metamorphic rocks of the Conlara Metamorphic Complex (CMC) in Sierra de San Luis, Argentina. For comparison, tourmaline from three LCT pegmatites in the adjacent Pringles Metamorphic Complex was also studied. Metamorphic tourmaline from the CMC has intermediate schorl–dravite compositions, with variable Fe# [100 * Fe/(Fe + Mg)] from 32 to 79. The δ11B values range from –14.8 to –8.9‰, which are typical values for continental metasediments and granites, ruling out a marine origin for the tourmalinite protoliths. Tourmaline from the S-type granites and aplite is more homogeneous, with Fe# from 48 to 60. The δ11B range (–14 to –9.8‰) of granitic tourmaline is within that of the metamorphic tourmaline, supporting the idea of boron recycling in the CMC during partial melting to form the granites. Tourmaline from CMC-hosted pegmatites is compositionally diverse and we distinguished three groups based on Fe#: Group 1: 42 to 50, Group 2: 50 to 62, and Group 3: 62 to 93. Regardless of strong variations in Fe#, tourmaline from all pegmatites in the CMC has δ11B values from –10.3 to –7.8‰. These values overlap with the range of related granites but are about 2 permil higher, which we attribute to crystallization of 10B-enriched minerals (mica and tourmaline) in the evolved magma from which the pegmatites formed. Pegmatites from the Pringles Metamorphic Complex contain tourmaline with a similar overall range of Fe# (45 to 84) as in the CMC but lower δ11B values (–13.2 to –11.2‰).

ZIRCONS FROM ROCKS OF THE MURZINKA-ADUI METAMORPHIC COMPLEX: GEOCHEMISTRY, THERMOMETRY, POLYCHRONISM, AND GENETIC CONSEQUENCES

Transformation of the oceanic crust into the continental one in orogenic belts is an important problem in petrological studies. In the paleocontinental sector of the Urals, a key object for tracing the stages of metamorphism and investigating the origin of anatectic granites is the Murzinka-Adui metamorphic complex. We have analyzed trace elements in zircons and established their genesis, sources, crystallization conditions, and stages of metamorphic events and granite generation in this complex. Zircons compositions were determined by the LA-ICP-MS method. Temperatures were calculated from Ti contents in the zircons. We distinguish three geochemical types of zircons, which differ in the ratios of light and heavy REE, U, Th, Ti, Y and show different values of Ce- and Eu-anomalies and Zr/Hf ratios, which are indicative of different crystallization conditions, as follows. Type I: minimal total LREE content; clear negative Eu- and Ce- anomalies; features of magmatic genesis; crystallization temperatures from 629 to 782 °C. Type II: higher contents of Ti, La, and LREE; low Ce-anomaly; assumed crystallization from highly fluidized melts or solutions. Type III: low positive Eu-anomaly; high REE content; low Th/U-ratio; zircons are assumed to originate from a specific fluidized melt with a high Eu-concentration. Ancient relict zircons (2300–330 Ma) in gneisses and granites show features of magma genesis and belong to types I and II. Such grains were possibly inherited from granitoid sources with different SiO2 contents and different degrees of metamorphism. Based on the geological and petrogeochemical features and zircon geochemistry of the Murzinka-Adui complex, there are grounds to conclude that the material composing this complex was generated from the sialic crust. The main stages of metamorphism and/or granite generation, which are traceable from the changes in types and compositions of the zircons, are dated at 1639, 380–370, 330, and 276–246 Ma. Thus, transformation of the oceanic crust into the continental one was a long-term and complicated process, and, as a result, the thickness of the sialic crust is increased in the study area.