Thermochronologic constraints on the origin of the Great Unconformity

The origin of the phenomenon known as the Great Unconformity has been a fundamental yet unresolved problem in the geosciences for over a century. Recent hypotheses advocate either global continental exhumation of more than 3–4 km during Cryogenian (717–635 Ma) snowball Earth glaciations, or alternatively, diachronous episodic exhumation throughout the Neoproterozoic (1000–540 Ma) due to plate tectonic reorganization from supercontinent Rodinia assembly and breakup. To test these hypotheses, the temporal pattern of Neoproterozoic thermal histories were evaluated for four North American locations using previously published medium-to-low temperature thermochronology and geologic information. We present inverse time-temperature simulations within a Bayesian modelling framework that record a consistent signal of relatively rapid, high magnitude cooling of ~120–200°C interpreted as erosional exhumation of upper crustal basement during the Cryogenian. These models imply widespread, synchronous cooling consistent with at least ~3–5 km of unroofing during snowball Earth glaciations, but also demonstrate that plate tectonic drivers, with the potential to cause both exhumation and burial, may have significantly influenced the thermal history in regions that were undergoing deformation concomitant with glaciation. In the cratonic interior, however, glaciation remains the only plausible mechanism that satisfies the required timing, magnitude, and broad spatial pattern of continental erosion revealed by our thermochronological inversions. To obtain a full picture of the extent and synchroneity of such erosional exhumation, studies on stable cratonic crust below the Great Unconformity must be repeated on all continents.

Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology reveals pre-Great Unconformity paleotopography in the Grand Canyon region, USA

The Great Unconformity is an iconic geologic feature that coincides with an enigmatic period of Earth’s history that spans the assembly and breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia and the Snowball Earth glaciations. We use zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology (ZHe) to explore the erosion history below the Great Unconformity at its classic Grand Canyon locality in Arizona, United States. ZHe dates are as old as 809 ± 25 Ma with data patterns that differ across both long (~100 km) and short (tens of kilometers) spatial wavelengths. The spatially variable thermal histories implied by these data are best explained by Proterozoic syndepositional normal faulting that induced differences in exhumation and burial across the region. The data, geologic relationships, and thermal history models suggest Neoproterozoic rock exhumation and the presence of a basement paleo high at the present-day Lower Granite Gorge synchronous with Grand Canyon Supergroup deposition at the present-day Upper Granite Gorge. The paleo high created a topographic barrier that may have limited deposition to restricted marine or nonmarine conditions. This paleotopographic evolution reflects protracted, multiphase tectonic activity during Rodinia assembly and breakup that induced multiple events that formed unconformities over hundreds of millions of years, all with claim to the title of a “Great Unconformity.”

Petrology, phase equilibria and In-situ U-Th-Pbtotal monazite geochronology of metasedimentary rocks from Pranhita-Godavari Basin and its implication in Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic Supercontinent Assembly

<p>The Pakhal basin occurs as two parallel NW-SE trending sub-basins (Western and Eastern) located at the East-Dharwar Craton (EDC) and the Bastar Craton junction. The metasedimentary rocks exposed at the western side of the basin are known as the Pakhal belt, whereas those exposed on the eastern sides are known as the Albaka belt. The aggregate thickness of the sediments is nearly 6000 meters. Researchers have studied the geochemical affinities of Pakhal and Albaka rock, which proved to be crucial to understand the basin-architecture, source of sediments, and basin evolution in the context of rifting of the Dharwar and the Bastar craton However, the timing of inversion of tectonics and subsequent basin convergence is not studied.</p><p>Xenoliths of metasedimentary rocks are exposed within the EDC granites near the Pakhal basin. Aggregates of biotite, muscovite, plagioclase, and quartz constitute these metasedimentary rocks. Monazite, zircon, and iron-oxide are present as accessory minerals. The X<sub>Mg</sub> Biotite (22 Opfu) varies from 0.86-0.10 and Ti content of biotite varies between 0.26-0.34 apfu. The mica is mostly muscovite with mean Si (22 Opfu.) content of 6.28 apfu. The X<sub>Ab</sub> of plagioclase is constrained to be 0.97 apfu. The P-T conditions of metasedimentary xenoliths are constrained by using conventional geothermobarometers and P-T pseudosection analysis. The Ti content in biotite yield peak temperature 650<sup>0</sup>C for the stabilization of biotite. The P-T pseudosection analysis and subsequent modeling of compositional parameters imply a temperature window of 600-700 <sup>0</sup>C and pressure 0.6-1.0 GPa for the stability of biotite-muscovite-plagioclase-quartz assemblages. ~ 50 μm monazites grains are dispersed throughout the studied sample. The ThO<sub>2</sub> content in the monazite grains varies between 1.7-5.8 wt%. Compositionally, the monazite grains are mostly La-Ce-Nd monazite in a tripartite classification. In a histogram distribution, the U-Th-Pb total spot ages exhibit two prominent peaks, at ~ 1295 Ma and ~ 1111 Ma. When combined with the P-T pseudosection analysis, the monazite ages imply rifting and opening the basin at ~ 1295 Ma. The ~ 1111 Ma monazite growth is correlated with granite emplacement and amalgamation of the Dharwar and the Bastar craton during Neoproterozoic Rodinia assembly.</p>

Neoproterozoic (post-900Ma) cratonization of the Tarim Craton and its role in assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent

<p>In the paleogeographic reconstruction of the Rodinia supercontinent, the Tarim Craton is placed either on the periphery of the supercontinent to the northwestern Australia or in the heart of the supercontinent between Australia and Laurentia. The mystery of the Tarim Craton is caused by the lack of paleomagnetic data, especially during the Rodinia assembly. We present here new primary paleomagnetic data from ca. 900 Ma volcanic strata in the Aksu region of the northeastern Tarim Craton. Rock magnetic investigations reveal magnetite and hematite as the main magnetic carriers. Characteristic remanent magnetizations isolated from 15 sites show both normal and reverse polarities. A site-mean direction is calculated at D<sub>g</sub>/I<sub>g</sub> = 155.2°/47.5° (k<sub>g</sub> = 11.6, α<sub>95g</sub> = 11.7°) in geographic coordinate and D<sub>s</sub>/I<sub>s</sub> = 205.2°/64.0° (k<sub>s</sub> = 24.4, α<sub>95s</sub> = 7.9°) after tilt-correction. The site-mean direction passes fold tests and a ~900 Ma paleomagnetic pole is calculated at λ/φ = -0.5°N/62.3°E (A<sub>95</sub> = 11.8°) corresponding to a paleolatitude of 45.7° N. The data reveal a ~20° latitude difference between the northern Tarim (N-Tarim) and southern Tarim (S-Tarim) terranes. Together with the late Meso- to early Neo-proterozoic arc magmatism identified both in the central Tarim Basin and along the north margin of the Tarim Craton, a post-900 Ma cratonization of the Tarim Craton resulting from a dual subduction system is proposed. Finally, a new paleogeographic reconstruction of the Rodinia supercontinent is made with the Tarim Craton being placed to the northwestern Australia and cratonization of the Tarim Craton may occur during the Rodinia assembly.</p>

U-Pb monazite ages of the Kabanga mafic-ultramafic intrusions and contact aureoles, central Africa: Geochronological and tectonic implications

Mafic-ultramafic rocks of the Kabanga-Musongati alignment in the East African nickel belt occur as Bushveld-type layered intrusions emplaced in metasedimentary sequences. The age of the mafic-ultramafic intrusions remains poorly constrained, though they are regarded to be part of ca. 1375 Ma bimodal magmatism dominated by voluminous S-type granites. In this study, we investigated igneous monazite and zircon from a differentiated layered intrusion and metamorphic monazite from the contact aureole. The monazite shows contrasting crystal morphology, chemical composition, and U-Pb ages. Monazite that formed by contact metamorphism in response to emplacement of mafic-ultramafic melts is characterized by extremely high Th and U and yielded a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 1402 ± 9 Ma, which is in agreement with dates from the igneous monazite and zircon. The ages indicate that the intrusion of ultramafic melts was substantially earlier (by ∼25 m.y., 95% confidence) than the prevailing S-type granites, calling for a reappraisal of the previously suggested model of coeval, bimodal magmatism. Monazite in the metapelitic rocks also records two younger growth events at ca. 1375 Ma and ca. 990 Ma, coeval with metamorphism during emplacement of S-type granites and tin-bearing granites, respectively. In conjunction with available geologic evidence, we propose that the Kabanga-Musongati mafic-ultramafic intrusions likely heralded a structurally controlled thermal anomaly related to Nuna breakup, which culminated during the ca. 1375 Ma Kibaran event, manifested as extensive intracrustal melting in the adjoining Karagwe-Ankole belt, producing voluminous S-type granites. The Grenvillian-aged (ca. 990 Ma) tin-bearing granite and related Sn mineralization appear to be the far-field record of tectonothermal events associated with collision along the Irumide belt during Rodinia assembly. Since monazite is a ubiquitous trace phase in pelitic sedimentary rocks, in contact aureoles of mafic-ultramafic intrusions, and in regional metamorphic belts, our study highlights the potential of using metamorphic monazite to determine ages of mafic-ultramafic intrusions, and to reconstruct postemplacement metamorphic history of the host terranes.