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Byline: Tsuyoshi Iizuka (1), Malcolm T. McCulloch (1,2), Tsuyoshi Komiya (3), Takazo Shibuya (4), Kenji Ohta (3), Haruka Ozawa (3), Emiko Sugimura (3), Kenneth D. Collerson (5) Keywords: Monazite; Ancient zircon; Hadean; LA-ICPMS; U--Pb; Early crustal evolution Abstract: Mt. Narryer and Jack Hills meta-sedimentary rocks in the Narryer Gneiss Complex of the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia are of particular importance because they yield Hadean detrital zircons. To better understand the tectonothermal history and provenance of these ancient sediments, we have integrated backscattered scanning electron images, in situ U--Pb isotopic and geochemical data for monazites from the meta-sediments. The data indicate multiple periods of metamorphic monazite growth in the Mt. Narryer meta-sediments during tectonothermal events, including metamorphism at ~3.3--3.2 and 2.7--2.6 Ga. These results set a new minimum age of 3.2 Ga for deposition of the Mt. Narryer sediments, previously constrained between 3.28 and ~2.7 Ga. Despite the significant metamorphic monazite growth, a relatively high proportion of detrital monazite survives in a Fe- and Mn-rich sample. This is likely because the high Fe and Mn bulk composition resulted in the efficient shielding of early formed monazite by garnet. In the Jack Hills meta-sediments, metamorphic monazite growth was minor, suggesting the absence of high-grade metamorphism in the sequence. The detrital monazites provide evidence for the derivation of Mt. Narryer sediments from ca. 3.6 and 3.3 Ga granites, likely corresponding to Meeberrie and Dugel granitic gneisses in the Narryer Gneiss Complex. No monazites older than 3.65 Ga have been identified, implying either that the source rocks of >3.65 Ga detrital zircons in the sediments contained little monazite, or that >3.65 Ga detrital minerals had experienced significant metamorphic events or prolonged sedimentary recycling, resulting in the complete dissolution or recrystallization of monazite. Author Affiliation: (1) Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia (2) School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia (3) Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8551, Japan (4) Precambrian Ecosystem Laboratory, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokosuka, 237-0061, Japan (5) School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia Article History: Registration Date: 23/02/2010 Received Date: 02/10/2009 Accepted Date: 23/02/2010 Online Date: 13/03/2010 Article note: Communicated by T. L. Grove. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: 10.1007/s00410-010-0508-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chaotically structured diamictite from the inner ring syncline surrounding the central uplift of the Woodleigh impact structure contains shocked metamorphic and impact melt-rock fragments, largely derived from Ordovician and Devonian target sandstones. Coarse illite fractions ( 0.2 [micro]m fractions from the diamictite without smectite and K-feldspar cluster around 360 Ma, consistent with Rb-Sr data. Crystallisation of newly formed illite in the impact melt rock clasts and recrystallisation of earlier formed illite in the sandstone clasts preserved in the diamictite, are attributed to impact-induced hydrothermal processes in the Late Devonian. The illitic clays from the diamictite and from the sandstones have very similar trace element compositions, with significantly enriched incompatible lithophile elements, which increase in concentrations correlatively with those of the compatible ferromagnesian elements. The unusual trace element associations in the clays may be due to the involvement of hot gravity-driven basinal fluids that interacted with rocks of the Precambrian craton to the east of the study area, or with such material transported and reworked in the studied sedimentary succession.

Comparison of initial Pb-isotope signatures of several early Archaean (3.65-3.82 Ga) lithologies (orthogneisses and metasediments) and minerals (feldspar and galena) documents the existence of substantial isotopic heterogeneity in the early Archaean, particularly in the [sup.207]Pb/[sup.204]Pb ratio. The magnitude of isotopic variability at 3.82-3.65 Ga requires source separation between 4.3 and 4.1 Ga, depending on the extent of U/ Pb fractionation possible in the early Earth. The isotopic heterogeneity could reflect the coexistence of enriched and depleted mantle domains or the separation of a terrestrial protocrust with a [sup.238]U/[sup.204]Pb ([micro]) that was ca. 20-30% higher than coeval mantle. We prefer this latter explanation because the high-[micro] signature is most evident in metasediments (that formed at the Earth's surface). This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that no straightforward mantle model can be constructed for these high-[micro] lithologies without violating bulk silicate Earth constraints. The Pb-isotope evidence for a long-lived protocrust complements similar Hf-isotope data from the Earth's oldest zircons, which also require an origin from an enriched (low Lu/Hf) environment. A model is developed in which [greater than or equal to] 3.8-Ga tonalite and monzodiorite gneiss precursors (for one of which we provide zircon U-Pb data) are not mantle-derived but formed by remelting or differentiation of ancient (ca. 4.3 Ga) basaltic crust which had evolved with a higher U/Pb ratio than coeval mantle in the absence of the subduction process. With the initiation of terrestrial subduction at, we propose, ca. 3.75 Ga, most of the [greater than or equal to] 3.8-Ga basaltic shell (and its differentiation products) was recycled into the mantle, because of the lack of a stabilising mantle lithosphere. We argue that the key event for preservation of all [greater than or equal to] 3.8-Ga terrestrial crust was the intrusion of voluminous granitoids immediately after establishment of global subduction because of complementary creation of a lithospheric keel. Furthermore, we argue that preservation of [greater than or equal to] 3.8-Ga material (in situ rocks and zircons) globally is restricted to cratons with a high U/Pb source character (North Atlantic, Slave, Zimbabwe, Yilgarn, and Wyoming), and that the Pb-isotope systematics of these provinces are ultimately explained by reworking of material that was derived from ca. 4.3 Ga (i.e. Hadean) basaltic crust.

We use published and new trace element data to identify element ratios which discriminate between arc magmas from the supra-subduction zone mantle wedge and those formed by direct melting of subducted crust (i.e. adakites). The clearest distinction is obtained with those element ratios which are strongly fractionated during refertilisation of the depleted mantle wedge, ultimately reflecting slab dehydration. Hence, adakites have significantly lower Pb/Nd and B/Be but higher Nb/ Ta than typical arc magmas and continental crust as a whole. Although Li and Be are also overenriched in continental crust, behaviour of Li/Yb and Be/Nd is more complex and these ratios do not provide unique signatures of slab melting. Archaean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites (TTGs) strongly resemble ordinary mantle wedge-derived arc magmas in terms of fluidmobile trace element content, implying that they did not form by slab melting but that they originated from mantle which was hydrated and enriched in elements lost from slabs during prograde dehydration. We suggest that Archaean TTGs formed by extensive fractional crystallisation from a mafic precursor. It is widely claimed that the time between the creation and subduction of oceanic lithosphere was significantly shorter in the Archaean (i.e. 20 Ma) than it is today. This difference was seen as an attractive explanation for the presumed preponderance of adakitic magmas during the first half of Earth's history. However, when we consider the effects of a higher potential mantle temperature on the thickness of oceanic crust, it follows that the mean age of oceanic lithosphere has remained virtually constant. Formation of adakites has therefore always depended on local plate geometry and not on potential mantle temperature.

Recognition of Late Archean and Early Proterozoic tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite crust in the Mount Isa block, northwest Queensland, Australia, has important implications for Proterozoic crustal evolutionary models in the North Australian craton. Protoliths of the Black Angel Gneiss Complex formed 2.42-2.50 Ga (Black Angel Gneisses) and 1.97-2.00 Ga (Pothole Creek Gneisses). Both groups have Nd model ages of 2.42 to 2.58 Ga. Supracrustal components within the gneiss complex have Nd model ages of 2.75 to 2.83 Ga. These data, and inherited components in zircons, indicate the presence of even older Archean crust. Crystallization of 1.84-1.87 Ga rims record a thermal event during a subsequent period of granitic (Kalkadoon-Leichhardt) magmatism. Both the Black Angel Gneiss Complex and Kalkadoon-Leichhardt magmatic suite have strong arc geochemical signatures and have components that are compositionally similar to Archean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite lithologies. A seismically defined, crustal-scale, west-dipping feature in the Mount Isa block may be a Proterozoic cryptic suture. Subduction-zone magmatism may be related to this feature. Late Archean and Early Proterozoic crust formation in this segment of the North Australian craton was subduction driven, involving assembly of microcontinental terranes similar to other Early Proterozoic belts. This observation is significant, because paleomagnetic data indicate that the North Australian craton and Laurentia were juxtaposed during Early to Middle Proterozoic time.

Author(s): Ronny Schoenberg (corresponding author) [1]; Balz S. Kamber [1]; Kenneth D. Collerson [1]; Stephen Moorbath [2] The 'Late Heavy Bombardment' was a phase in the impact history of the [...]

Mass spectrometric U-series dating of speleothems from Tangshan Cave, combined with ecological and paleoclimatic evidence, indicates that Nanjing Man, a typical Homo erectus morphologically correlated with Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, should be at least 580 k.y. old, or more likely lived during the glacial oxygen isotope stage 16 (~620 ka). Such an age estimate, which is ~270 ka older than previous electron spin resonance and alpha-counting U-series dates, has significant implications for the evolution of Asian H. erectus. Dentine and enamel samples from the coexisting fossil layer yield significantly younger apparent ages, that of the enamel sample being only less than one-fourth of the minimum age of Nanjing Man. This suggests that U uptake history is far more complex than existing models can handle. As a result, great care must be taken in the interpretation of electron spin resonance and U-series dates of fossil teeth. Keywords: H. erectus, U-series, TIMS, speleothem, tooth.

Rocks containing high-pressure mineral assemblages derived from the mantle transition zone between depths of about 400 and 670 kilometers occur as xenoliths and megacrysts on the island of Malaita in the southwest Pacific on the Ontong Java Plateau. Observed ultrahigh pressure mineral chemistries include majorite, calcium- and magnesium-perovskite, aluminous silicate phases, and microdiamond. Based on an empirical barometer, majoritic garnets in these xenoliths record pressures of up to 22 gigapascal. The occurrence of material with perovskite chemistry and several enigmatic aluminous phases indicates pressures of up to 27 gigapascal. Samples were brought to the surface at about 34 million years ago by potassic ultramatic magmas, which evidently originated in the lower mantle., Xenoliths, the main direct source of information about mantle mineralogy, are predominantly derived from the top of the upper mantle, from depths of ~150 to 200 km (1, 2), although [...]

Byline: I. Tonguc Uysal (1), Arthur J. Mory (2), Suzanne D. Golding (1), Robert Bolhar (3), Kenneth D. Collerson (3) Author Affiliation: (1) Earth Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia (2) Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain St., East Perth, WA, 6004, Australia (3) Advanced Centre for Queensland University Research Excellence (ACQUIRE), University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, QLD, Australia Article History: Registration Date: 02/08/2005 Online Date: 04/11/2005 Article note: The online version of the original article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00410-005-0665-8

Temporal evolution of depleted mantle thorium-uranium-niobium systematics constrain the amount of continental crust present through Earth's history (through the niobium/thorium ratio) and date formation of a globally oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere at approximately 2.0 billion years ago (through the niobium/uranium ratio). Increase in the niobium/thorium ratio shows involvement of hydrated lithosphere in differentiation of Earth since approximately 3.8 billion years ago. After approximately 2.0 billion years ago, the decreasing mantle thorium/uranium ratio portrays mainly preferential recycling of uranium in an oxidizing atmosphere and hydrosphere. Net growth rate of continental crust has varied over time, and continents are still growing today., The nature and time scales of differentiation of Earth's silicate portion into depleted mantle and continental crust, as well as the effects of a changing atmosphere on this process, remain [...]