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The western Argentinian sector of Gondwana has been the focus of several recent studies related to the Famatinian orogeny; however, the geologic history of arc activity in hinterland areas remains poorly understood. We present new data from the Monte Guazú Complex that reveal arc-related magmatism in the Sierras de Córdoba, which we consider part of the Famatinian hinterland. Igneous rocks comprise a diorite unit which includes an amphibole quartz-gabbro/diorite and a tonalite unit comprising amphibole- and biotite-bearing tonalites to minor granodiorites. Both units constitute a medium-K calc-alkaline series ranging in composition from metaluminous to moderately peraluminous. Trace-element signatures show Ti and Nb depletion and strong incompatible element enrichments (large-ion lithophile elements, Pb, Th, U, and light-rare earth elements) relative to normal mid-ocean ridge basalts, suggesting that they formed in an arc setting. U–Pb zircon geochronology constrains magmatism to 455–498 Ma, while weighted mean ages of 474–489 Ma are mostly synchronous with the Famatinian arc beginning. We demonstrate that fractional crystallization of mantle wedge-derived melts controlled the early magmatic evolution, while country rock assimilation and anatectic melt mixing were prevalent in evolved rock members. These results spatially extend the Late Cambrian–Late Ordovician Famatinian retro-arc to the southern Sierras de Córdoba. Our findings show that magmatism involved coeval anatexis of host rocks, conversely to previous geodynamic models. Our data have fundamental implications for Paleozoic tectonic and magmatic processes operating along the western Argentinian sector of Gondwana, demonstrating the importance of crustal reworking and the addition of mantle material in the Famatinian arc inboard sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass transference from lower to upper crustal levels requires an efficient network of pathways that act as channels for draining melts from the source and transferring magmas through the crust. We report on a mid-crustal section in the Santa Rosa river from the Eastern Pampean Ranges that underwent partial melting under active deformation. The study focuses on the feedback relations between structural features and the position and shape of leucosomes that record the remnant magma network in both metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks. A complete range of migmatites encompassing from patch to stromatic metatexite to schollen-schlieren and nebulitic diatexite formed during a single high-grade metamorphic event that postdated a previous sub-solid evolution. The diversity in migmatites structures suggests that the layered sequence behaved heterogeneously under a non-coaxial deformational regime of progressive deformation. The relationships between migmatitic structures and the progressive production of melts resulted in feedback relations that persisted as a time-marker during the Pampean event. U-Pb dating of leucogranitic zircons allows constraining the time of melt generation and segregation to the lower Cambrian (534-520 Ma). Migmatites in the lower crust of the Pampean orogen acted as channels of melt migration towards upper crustal levels. • Non-coaxial Pampean deformation and its relationships with migmatitic structures. • A melt transference zone documented from a middle crustal ancient accretionary orogen. • Geochronology shows that syn-deformational migmatites generated during lower Cambrian. • Axial-plane leucosomes work out as melt-removal paths towards upper crustal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The granulite-complexes of the Sierras de Córdoba, inside context of Sierras Pampeanas, expose the deeply-uplifted internal metamorphic zone of an early Cambrian orogen. One of the largest granulite-complexes in the north-central of Sierra de Comechingones consists mainly of a set of stromatic and diatexitic migmatites all derived from metasedimentary progenitors. Migmatites vary over a spectrum of morphologies ranging from patch, net, and stromatic metatexites to schollen-schlieren and nebulite diatexites with widespread interspersed anatectic granites. The granulite-complex subordinately includes amphibolites, marbles, serpentinized ultramafic rocks, and mafic plutonic rocks. Petrographic analysis, textural and structural interpretation, thermobarometric estimates, and inherited and metamorphic zircon dating reveal the metamorphic history of migmatites in the north-central part of the Sierra de Comechingones. Metastable preservation of kyanite reflects that migmatites were buried (0.69–0.78 GPa) and heated (~650 °C) along a prograde trajectory before the onset of extensive anatexis. Then migmatites were further heated to granulite-facies peak temperatures (≥800 °C) at similar pressures (0.77 ± 0.06 GPa) through the sillimanite stability field. Widespread partial melting of the metasedimentary sequence occurred during peak metamorphism. The entire granulite-complex cooled to temperatures below 550 °C and ascended to middle crustal depths (0.3–0.5 GPa). The prograde heating trajectory and decompression during uplift overcoming cooling and tectonic exhumation are compatible with a predominantly compressive deformation. Coeval widespread partial melting with contractional non-coaxial deformation triggered self-reorganization of anatectic melts giving rise syn-deformational migmatites. In all the analyzed migmatites, U–Pb zircon geochronology yields inherited ages corresponding to those of orogenic systems that characterize the West Gondwana supercontinent. Inherited ages show a polymodal distribution pattern with contributions from Neoproterozoic (551–734 Ma; i.e., Brasiliano - Pan-African) and Mesoproterozoic detrital zircons (850–1182 Ma; i.e., Grenvillian), and minor proportions of Paleoproterozoic zircon grains (1751–1839 Ma). Ages interpreted as metamorphism and anatexis suggest the development of a single metamorphic event and restricted anatexis to a relatively short period of about 15 Ma (ca. 540-525 Ma). Metamorphic ages associated with the metamorphic peak trajectory are related to the Cambrian Pampean Orogeny. • P-T- t path shows a clockwise evolution along a single metamorphic event. • U–Pb zircon geochronology constraints granulite-facies metamorphism to ~540-525 Ma. • Metamorphic evolution was coeval with a compressive non-coaxial deformation. • Metatexites and diatexites are Early Cambrian syn-deformational lithological products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Valle Fértil-La Huerta batholith is a differentially tilted, compositionally stacked, calc-alkaline plutonic sequence in the central Famatinian arc of Argentina. It consists of two major lithologic units: these are (1) an intermediate unit largely dominated by amphibole- and biotite-bearing tonalites but encompassing from gabbro to leucogranite; and (2) an overlying silicic unit that shows the same petrological diversity as the intermediate unit, but granodiorite and monzogranite are its prevailing lithologies. The silicic unit is separated into four subunits using lithological changes at regional mapping scale. All the boundaries are gradational among lithologic units and subunits. The internal fabric along the entire batholith is either magmatic or submagmatic and it was developed during the arc formation. The original magmatic foliation is north–south striking and steeply-dipping. The magmatic foliation crosses over and transposes the gradational contacts among lithologic units. Petrological architecture, structural geology, geobarometric estimates and geochronology show that the entire batholith is a comagmatic system exposing more than 13 km of a middle arc crust. Crystallization-fractionation models computed using whole rock and mineral chemistry account for the mineralogy of plutonic rocks and coincide with the results of experimental petrology. Mass-balanced modeling predicts that the unexposed cumulate roots of the Famatinian arc should have been about 1.3 times larger than the intermediate and silicic plutonic batholith. However, the mass of calculated cumulate would diminish significantly if a portion of the host metasedimentary material were consumed in constructing the batholith. The batholith grew progressing upward from the lowest levels and acquired a stratified compositional organization. The driving mechanism was continuous influxes of mantle-derived mafic magmas that made up the lower crust, caused crustal-level melting and magma mixing, and formed intermediate – silicic rocks at increasingly shallower depths. • The plutonic middle crust of the Famatinian arc was at least 13 km thick. • The plutonic crust grew progressing upward and acquiring a stratified organization. • Pre-arc metasedimentary sequences play a role in fertilizing the magmatic system. • Modeling yields a 1.3:1 ratio of cumulates over derivatives to make the magmatic column. • A few tens of kilometers of cogenetic cumulates are lost in the Famatinian arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]