The impact of a tear in the subducted Indian plate on the Miocene geology of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen

The Yadong-Gulu Rift, cutting across the Gangdese belt and Himalayan terranes, is currently associated with a thermal anomaly in the mantle and crustal melting at 15−20 km depth. The rift follows the trace of a tear in the underthrusted Indian continental lithospheric slab recognized by high resolution geophysical methods. The Miocene evolution of a 400-km-wide band following the trace of the tear and the rift, records differences interpreted as indicative of a higher heat flow than its surroundings. In the Gangdese belt, this band is characterized by high-Sr/Y granitic magmatism that lasted 5 m.y. longer than elsewhere and by the highest values of εHf(i) and association with the largest porphyry Cu-Mo deposits in the Gangdese belt. Anomalously young magmatic rocks continue south along the rift in the Tethyan and Higher Himalayas. Here, a 300-km-wide belt includes some of the youngest Miocene Himalayan leucogranites; the only occurrence of mantle-derived mafic enclaves in a leucogranite; young mantle-derived lamprophyre dikes; and the youngest and hottest migmatites in the Higher Himalayas. These migmatites record a history of rapid exhumation contemporaneous with the exhumation of Miocene mafic eclogite blocks, which are unique to this region and which were both heated to >800 °C at ca. 15−13 Ma, followed by isothermal decompression. We suggest that the prominent tear in the Indian lithosphere, sub-parallel to the rift, is the most likely source for these tectono-thermal anomalies since the Miocene.

Exhumation History of the Western Gneiss Region Revealed Through Symplectite Thermobarometry

<p>The Western Gneiss Region (WGR) of Norway, part of the Caledonian Orogenic Belt, is one of the largest and best studied examples of exhumed ultra-high pressure (UHP) continental terrains in the world. This makes it an ideal candidate for studying the poorly understood processes that facilitate and control the exhumation of UHP continental material. Although the WGR is often considered the type example of the eduction model of UHP exhumation (Andersen et al., 1991), validation of exhumation models requires robust estimates of pressure and temperature across the full range of retrograde conditions which follow peak metamorphism. However, such constraints are often difficult to obtain as there is commonly overprinting of early-stage exhumation records during later stages of exhumation.  </p><p>UHP assemblages in the WGR are primarily preserved within numerous mafic eclogite enclaves, making them ideal candidates for studying processes and conditions that occur during exhumation from UHP conditions. In this study, we present detailed Electron Probe Micro-Analyses (EPMA) combined with Scanning Electron and Optical Microscopy characterization from a suite of mafic eclogite samples from the Stadlandet Peninsula of Western Norway. Our analyses focus on diopside–plagioclase (± amphibole) symplectite, which form from breakdown of omphacite during exhumation. Spatial variations in the compositions of minerals within these symplectites reflect a detailed record of P-T conditions during exhumation (Boland & van Roermund, 1983; Joanny et al., 1991; Waters, 2002). We used a novel technique of high resolution, low voltage EPMA, combined with secondary fluorescence corrections, which permits the analysis of individual symplectite lamellae with widths down to 1μm. Retrograde P-T pathways were then constructed from these data using the hornblende-plagioclase thermometer and clinopyroxene-plagioclase-hornblende barometer (Waters, 2002).  </p><p>P-T estimates from the symplectites fall in the range 470-720°C and 3-16 kbar. Combining the P-T arrays with existing peak P-T estimates indicates a two-stage exhumation path, with a steep initial isothermal decompression from depth followed by a more gentle cooling trajectory at lower pressures. The inflection in the exhumation path is estimated to be around 10-15 kbar at 650-700°C. The path shape is usually interpreted to record an initial rapid buoyancy driven exhumation from UHP to the base of the crust or lithosphere, followed by a second stage of slow exhumation to crustal depths. This confirmation of two-stage exhumation paths helps to constrain models of exhumation for the WGR, which in turn provides insights into how UHP terrains exhume globally.</p><p> </p><p>References:</p><p>Andersen, T. B., Jamtveit, B., Dewey, J. F. & Swensson E. (1991). Subduction and Eduction of Continental Crust: Major Mechanisms during Continent-Continent Collision and Orogenic Extensional Collapse, a Model Based on the South Norwegian Caledonides. Terra Nova, 3(3), 303–10</p><p>Boland, J., & van Roermund, H. (1983). Mechanisms of exsolution in omphacites from high temperature, type B, eclogites. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 9(1), 30–37.</p><p>Joanny, V., van Roermund, H. & Lardeaux, J. M. (1991). The clinopyroxene/plagioclase symplectite in retrograde eclogites. Geologische Rundschau, 80(2), 303–320</p><p>Waters, D. J. (2002). Clinopyroxene-amphibole-plagioclase symplectites in Norwegian eclogites. Mineralogical Society, Winter Conference, Derby.</p>

Metamorphism and geochronology of garnet amphibolite from the Beishan Orogen, southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Constraints from P-T path and zircon U-Pb dating

<p>Numerous lenses of garnet amphibolite occur in the garnet-bearing biotite-plagioclase gneiss belt in the Baishan area of the Beishan Orogen, which connects the Tianshan Orogen to the west and the Mongolia-Xing’anling Orogen to the east. According to the microstructures, mineral relationships, and geothermobarometry, four stages of mineral assemblages have been identified as follows: (1) a pre-peak stage, which is recorded by the cores of garnet together with core-inclusions of plagioclase (Pl<sub>1</sub>); (2) a peak stage, which is recorded by the mantles of garnet together with mantle-inclusions of plagioclase (Pl<sub>2</sub>) + amphibole (Amp<sub>1</sub>) + Ilmenite (Ilm<sub>1</sub>) + biotite (Bt<sub>1</sub>), developed at temperature-pressure (P-T) conditions of 818.9–836.5 °C and 7.3–9.2 kbar; (3) a retrograde stage, which is recorded by garnet rims + plagioclase (Pl<sub>3</sub>) + amphibole (Amp<sub>2</sub>) + orthopyroxene (Opx<sub>1</sub>) + biotite (Bt<sub>2</sub>) + Ilmenite (Ilm<sub>2</sub>), developed at P-T conditions of 796.1–836.9 °C and 5.6–7.5 kbar; (4) a symplectitic stage, which is recorded by plagioclase (Pl<sub>4</sub>) + orthopyroxene (Opx<sub>2</sub>) + amphibole (Amp<sub>3</sub>) + biotite (Bt<sub>3</sub>) symplectites, developed at P-T conditions of 732 ± 59.6 °C and 6.1 ± 0.6 kbar. Moreover, the U-Pb dating of the Beishan garnet amphibolite indicates an age of 301.9 ± 4.7 Ma for the protolith and 281.4 ± 8.5 Ma for the peak metamorphic age. Therefore, the mineral assemblage, P-T conditions, and zircon U-Pb ages of the Beishan garnet amphibolite define a near-isothermal decompression of a clockwise P-T-t (Pressure-Temperature-time) path, indicating the presence of over thickened continental crust in the Huaniushan arc until the Early Permian, then the southern Beishan area underwent a continental crust tectonic thinning process.</p>

Metamorphic P-T-t evolution of amphibolite in the north Hengshan terrane, North China Craton: Insights into the late Paleoproterozoic tectonic processes from initial collision to final exhumation

Amphibolite retrograded from high-pressure (HP) mafic granulite can provide valuable insight into exhumation of deeply buried crust in orogenic belts. In the north Hengshan terrane of the North China Craton, amphibolite occurs as rims of HP mafic granulite block or as smaller homogeneous boudins representing retrograde products of the granulite. Three amphibolite samples were selected. The rocks are mainly composed of hornblende + plagioclase + quartz + biotite + ilmenite with or without garnet pseudomorph consisting of plagioclase + hornblende + ilmenite and symplectite of hornblende + plagioclase ± clinopyroxene. The pseudomorph-, symplectite-bearing sample experienced a post-peak isothermal decompression at >800 °C that was accompanied by breakdown of garnet and clinopyroxene. Isopleths of the maximum An in plagioclase and Ti in hornblende were used to constrain the Tmax stage of ca. 6 kbar/825−850 °C, which was followed by cooling and post-cooling decompression. For the sample showing an “equilibrated” mineral assemblage, a medium-temperature decompression from >6.8 kbar/685 °C to 3.6−4.8 kbar/640−660 °C was inferred. P-T evolution of the north Hengshan terrane is characterized by two discrete (post-peak and post-cooling) decompression processes. Zircon U-Pb dating of amphibolite yields a metamorphic age of 1868 ± 15 Ma, which is interpreted to record the timing of late amphibolization. Synthesized metamorphic P-T-t data in the Hengshan-Wutai area indicate a complicated tectonic evolution that includes an older collisional orogeny at ca. 1.95 Ga and a younger metamorphism at ca. 1.85 Ga. The post-cooling decompression path of the amphibolite may reflect final exhumation of the north Hengshan terrane through the late deformation/metamorphism of the Zhujiafang shear zone.

SHRIMP U-Pb Ages and REE Patterns for Zircon from an Anatectic Variscan Two-Mica Granite from the Bemposta Migmatite Complex (Central Iberian Zone)

ABSTRACT The Variscan Bemposta Migmatite Complex (BMC) in northern Portugal (Central Iberian Zone) is a NE–SW-trending high-grade metamorphic core complex comprising upper-amphibolite- to lower-granulite-facies metapelites and metagreywackes of Ediacaran-Cambrian age and subordinate Ordovician orthogneisses showing evidence of intense migmatization. The available petrological data indicate that these rocks attained peak metamorphic conditions at the end of the first Variscan contractional deformation event (D1), followed an isothermal decompression path during D2 crustal extension, and underwent subsequent retrogression during D3 shearing. The whole BMC complex hosts numerous concordant intrusive bodies (sheets several meters thick) of syn-D2 two-mica granites, genetically linked to the leucosomes, suggesting that the emplacement of these magmas was synchronous with core complex extension. U-Pb SHRIMP ages obtained from zircons from one of these syn-D2 tabular plutons (the Faia d'Água Alta granite) yielded a crystallization age of 324 ± 3 Ma, providing a good estimate for the age of the D2 anatectic event in the region.

Metamorphic evolution of high-pressure felsic and pelitic granulites from the Qianlishan Complex and tectonic implications for the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton

High-pressure felsic granulites in association with pelitic granulites are widely distributed in the Qianlishan Complex of the Khondalite Belt, North China Craton. A link between “inter-layered” felsic and pelitic granulites was established based on comprehensive metamorphic analysis, revealing that they record similar metamorphic stages: peak pressure (M1), post-peak decompression (M2), and late retrograde cooling (M3) stages. Felsic granulites experienced high-pressure metamorphism up to ∼12 kbar, while pelitic granulites estimated peak pressure is 11–15 kbar. The decompression stage (M2) is indicated by cordierite + sillimanite symplectite and/or cordierite coronae with conditions of 5.7–6.5 kbar/800–835 °C in pelitic granulites, and by garnet-sillimanite assemblages with conditions of >6.5 kbar/810–865 °C in felsic granulites. The later cooling stage (M3) is marked by sub-solidus biotite-quartz-plagioclase symplectite and later melt crystallization. These mineral assemblages and pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions define clockwise P-T paths involving near-isothermal decompression and near-isobaric cooling, suggesting a continent-continent collisional event. Secondary ion mass spectrometry zircon U-Pb dating yields a consistent metamorphic age of ca. 1.95 Ga, interpreted as peak metamorphism. The results, combined with available data, suggest that the Khondalite Belt formed by collision between the Yinshan and Ordos blocks at ca. 1.95 Ga.

Muscovite Dehydration Melting in Silica-Undersaturated Systems: A Case Study from Corundum-Bearing Anatectic Rocks in the Dabie Orogen

Corundum-bearing anatectic aluminous rocks are exposed in the deeply subducted North Dabie complex zone (NDZ), of Central China. The rocks consist of corundum, biotite, K-feldspar and plagioclase, and show clear macro- and micro-structural evidence of anatexis by dehydration melting of muscovite in the absence of quartz. Mineral textures and chemical data integrated with phase equilibria modeling, indicate that coarse-grained corundum in leucosome domains is a peritectic phase, reflecting dehydration melting of muscovite through the reaction: Muscovite = Corundum + K-feldspar + Melt. Aggregates of fine-grained, oriented, corundum grains intergrown with alkali feldspar in the mesosome domains are, instead, formed by the dehydration melting of muscovite with aluminosilicate, through the reaction: Muscovite + Al-silicate = Corundum + K-feldspar + Melt. P-T pseudosections modeling in the Na2O-CaO-K2O-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-TiO2 system constrains peak pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions at 900–950 °C, 9–14 kbar. The formation of peritectic corundum in the studied rocks is a robust petrographic evidence of white mica decompression melting that has occurred during the near-isothermal exhumation of the NDZ. Combined with P-T estimates for the other metamorphic rocks in the area, these new results further confirm that the NDZ experienced a long-lived high-T evolution with a near-isothermal decompression path from mantle depths to lower-crustal levels. Furthermore, our new data suggest that white mica decompression melting during exhumation of the NDZ was a long-lasting process occurring on a depth interval of more than 30 km.