Search

Low- P granulite facies metapelitic migmatites in the Wuluma Hills, Strangways Metamorphic Complex, Arunta Block, preserve evidence of polyphase deformation and migmatite formation which is of the same age of the c. 1730 Ma Wuluma granite. Mineral equilibria modelling of garnet-orthoproxene-cordierite-bearing assemblages usingthermocalc is consistent with peak S3 conditions of 6.0–6.5 kbar and 850–900 °C. The growth of orthopyroxene and garnet was primarily controlled by biotite breakdown during partial melting reactions. Whereas orthopyroxene in the cordierite-biotite mesosome shows enrichment of heavy-REE (HREE) relative to medium-REE (MREE), orthopyroxene in adjacent garnet-bearing leucosome shows depletion of HREE relative to MREE. There is no appreciable difference in major element contents of minerals common to both the mesosome and leucosome. The REE variations can be satisfactorily explained by decoupling of major element and REE partitioning, in the context of appropriate phase-equilibria modelling of a prograde path at ∼6 kbar. Sparse garnet nucleii formed at ∼760 °C, along with concentrated leucosome development and preferentially partitioned HREE. Further heating to ∼800 °C at constant or subtly increasing pressure conditions additionally stabilized orthopyroxene and decreased the garnet mode. Orthopyroxene in the leucosome inherited an REE pattern consequent to the partial consumption of garnet, it being distinct from the REE pattern in mesosome orthoproxene that was mostly controlled by biotite breakdown. Such within-sample variability in the enrichment of heavy REE indicates that caution needs to be exercised in the application of common elemental partitioning coefficients in spatially complex metamorphic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pods of granulite facies dioritic gneiss in the Pembroke Valley, Milford Sound, New Zealand, preserve peritectic garnet surrounded by trondhjemitic leucosome and vein networks, that are evidence of high- P partial melting. Garnet-bearing trondhjemitic veins extend into host gabbroic gneiss, where they are spatially linked with the recrystallization of comparatively low- P two-pyroxene-hornblende granulite to fine-grained high- P garnet granulite assemblages in garnet reaction zones. New data acquired using a Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS) for minerals in various textural settings indicate differences in the partitioning of trace elements in the transition of the two rock types to garnet granulite, mostly due to the presence or absence of clinozoisite. Garnet in the garnet reaction zone (gabbroic gneiss) has a distinct trace element pattern, inherited from reactant gabbroic gneiss hornblende. Peritectic garnet in the dioritic gneiss and garnet in trondhjemitic veins from the Pembroke Granulite have trace element patterns inherited from the melt-producing reaction in the dioritic gneiss. The distinct trace element patterns of garnet link the trondhjemitic veins geochemically to sites of partial melting in the dioritic gneiss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major and trace element data on basanitic to phonolitic lavas of different ages and from different parts of Tenerife (Canary Islands), and their mafic silicates have been used to obtain more detailed information about processes taking place in crustal magma chambers associated with ocean island magmatism in Tenerife. Clinopyroxene phenocrysts in basanitic to phonolitic lavas consist of diopside-salite (referred to as Al-salite) with alternating normal and reverse zoning, and commonly contain a rounded or corroded core of homogeneous Na-rich diopside-salite (referred to as Na-salite). In general Al-salite contains lower amounts of rare earth elements (REE) and Y, and more Mg, Al, Ti, Cr, Sc and Ni than Na-salite. Variations in trace element concentrations and ratios are only weakly related to variations in mg-number. Petrographic and compositional relations among the lavas and mafic silicates are interpreted as the results of fractional crystallization in periodically refilled magma chambers (FCM processes). The FCM processes took place at temperatures of 1040-1260°C and pressures of about 0·2-0·5 GPa; that is, partly within the old oceanic crust and partly within the overlying sequence of Canary Islands lavas. FCM processes may lead to significant fractionation between incompatible trace elements whose ratios in mafic magmas are used to characterize their mantle source(s). Melts subjected to FCM processes will, furthermore, produce significantly larger masses of cumulates than melts of similar mg-number that have only been subjected to simple fractional crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Heavy-mineral concentrates (garnets, chromites) and xenoliths from 21 Cretaceous-Tertiary kimberlite intrusions have been used to map the lithospheric mantle beneath the Lac de Gras area in the central part of the Slave Province. Analyses of Nickel Temperature (TNi) and Zinc Temperature (TZn) have been used to place garnet and chromite xenocrysts, respectively, in depth context. Paleogeotherms derived from both xenoliths and concentrates lie near a 35 mW/m2 conductive model at T <= 900°C, and near a 38 mW/m2 model at higher T, implying a marked change in conductivity and/or a thermal transient. Plots of garnet composition vs TNi also show a sharp discontinuity in mantle composition at 900°C. Garnets from <145 km depth are ultradepleted in Y, Zr, Ti and Ga, whereas those from greater depths (to >= 200 km) are similar to garnets from Archean mantle world-wide. Relative abundances of garnet types indicate that the shallow layer consists of ~60% (clinopyroxene-free) harzburgite and 40% lherzolite, whereas the deeper layer contains 15-20% harzburgite and 80-85% lherzolite. T estimates on eclogite xenoliths show that all were derived from the deeper layer. Xenolith data and garnet compositions indicate that the shallow layer is more magnesian (Fo92-94) than the deeper layer (Fo91-92), and both layers are more olivine rich than South African or Siberian Archean peridotite xenoliths. The composition and sharply defined structure of the Lac de Gras lithosphere are unique within our current knowledge of Archean mantle sections. The shallow layer of this lithosphere section is similar to peridotites from some highly depleted ophiolites from convergent-margin settings, and may have formed in a similar situation during the accretion of the Hackett and Contwoyto terranes (magmatic arc and accretionary prism, respectively) to the ancient continental Anton terrane at 2·6-2·7 Ga. The deeper layer is interpreted as a plume head, which rose from the lower mantle and underplated the existing lithosphere at 2·6 Ga; evidence includes a high proportion of the superdeep inclusion assemblage (ferropericlase-perovskite) in the diamond population. This event could have provided heat for generation of the widespread 2·6 Ga post-tectonic granites. Proterozoic subduction from east and west may have modified the cratonic root, mainly by introduction of eclogites near its base. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper presents the first isotopic U–Pb study data (LA–ICP–MS method) of zircon from intrusive rocks of the Molo-Sarychat pluton situated along the deep-seated fault system of the "Nikolaev Line" in the eastern Kyrgyzstan. The intrusive rocks from this pluton belong to the high-potassic calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series. Intense Mo(–W–Cu–Au) (mainly molybdenum-porphyry) mineralization is spatially and genetically associated with this pluton. Together with the other Au, W and Cu deposits and occurrences, this mineralization is part of the extended metallogenic belt of Tien Shan; however, occurrences of molybdenum-porphyry mineralization are still rare in this belt. The concordant isotopic U–Pb ages of zircon autocrysts indicate the crystallization of quartz monzonite (293.3 ± 4.2 Ma) and monzogranite (286.6 ± 2.4 Ma) in the Early Permian. Zircon antecrysts dated at 306–320 Ma are also present. The crystallization age obtained corresponds to a post-collisional epoch of the development of this territory but the presence of the antecrysts expands the pluton emplacement to the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian, which, as a result, spanned over initially subduction-related and then post-collisional tectonic settings. Correspondingly, a post-collisional setting of the Mo(–W–Cu–Au) (molybdenum-porphyry) mineralization is established; it is related to the pluton studied and was formed after the emplacement of quartz monzonite (early stage) and monzogranite (late stage). Significant enrichment in Mo can be related to its progressing accumulation during magmatic differentiation causing the emplacement of quartz monzonite and especially monzogranite. These processes occurred under the more mature post-collisional tectonic regime, with possible formation of intermediate magma chambers in the Paleoproterozoic metamorphic rocks and ancient granitoids. The age dates determined for rocks from the Molo-Sarychat pluton are similar to those identified for the igneous and metasomatic rocks of the large Kumtor gold deposit that is also associated with the "Nikolaev Line." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delamination of lower continental lithosphere is known to have occurred under different tectonic settings. However, its fate in the mantle is poorly understood. By analyzing global seismic models, we find that most of likely lithosphere that delaminated during the Cenozoic and Mesozoic is preserved in the mantle transition zone, especially beneath North America and Africa. Numerical experiments indicates that delaminated lithosphere can remain stagnant in the mantle transition zone for tens of millions of years, followed by its potential sinking into the lower mantle or re‐rising to shallower depths depending on its density, the Clapeyron slope of the spinel‐to‐post‐spinel phase change and increase in mantle viscosity at ∼660–1,000 km depths. Re‐ascent occurs when delaminated lithosphere is reheated so that its effective density becomes lower than its surrounding ambient mantle after ∼100 Myr. Delaminated fragments can also potentially be mobilized by underlying global mantle flow to move horizontally away from plume regions. Plain Language Summary: The phenomenon of lower lithospheric delamination has been recognized in various tectonic settings, but the ultimate fate of these delaminated fragments within the mantle remains poorly known. From global seismic tomographic models, we gain first‐order constraints on the potential locations of geologically recent (<250 Ma) delaminated lithosphere, particularly in regions distant from subduction zones. A significant portion of Cenozoic and Mesozoic delaminated lithosphere appears to still be sequestered within the mantle transition zone, with pronounced concentrations beneath the Mesozoic and Cenozoic locations of North America and Africa. Numerical simulations further corroborate the hypothesis that these fragments of delaminated lithosphere can remain stagnant within the mantle transition zone over these geologically interesting timescales. Delaminated lithosphere can also re‐rise or move horizontally depending on underlying global mantle flow. Key Points: Seismic tomographic models provide first‐order constraints on the location of recent delaminated lithosphere in the upper and mid‐mantleDelaminated lithosphere can remain stagnant in the mantle transition zone for tens to hundreds of millions of yearsDepending on underlying mantle flow, delaminated lithosphere can also eventually warm and rise, or even move horizontally [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Paleozoic tectonic setting and geological processes of the South China Block have long been a subject of debate. This study presented zircon U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotope, and whole-rock geochemical analyses for the Early Paleozoic granitoids in the Baoshan deposit of the Dayaoshan Uplift. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb results suggest that the diorites, granite porphyries, granodiorites and its mafic microgranular enclaves in the Baoshan deposit formed at 449-430 Ma. Their formation ages are consistent with those of granite, MMEs and mafic rocks found in the Dayaoshan region. The granite porphyries, granodiorites, diorites and their MMEs in the Baoshan deposit have high Eu/Eu*ratios, low Zr + Nb + Y + Ce contents, 10,000xGa/Al values, and A/CNK ratios (0.74-1.08), belonging to metaluminous to weakly peraluminous calc-alkaline I-type granitoids. Based on zircon Hf isotopic compositions (eHf(t) from -5.5 to +3.1), it is unlikely that these rocks were solely originated from a crustal source, and mantle-derived magma also played a significant role in the formation of these intrusive rocks. It is inferred that the granitoids in the Baoshan deposit were probably formed through the underplating of mantlederived magmas during a transitional collision to extension tectonic setting, which led to the remelting of Mesoproterozoic crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents first data on isotopic U–Pb study (LA-ICP-MS method) of zircon from intrusive rocks of the Adyrtor intrusions – a group of small intrusives situated in the easternmost part of the deep-seated fault system of the "Nikolaev Line." Here, these intrusions cut through one of the oldest (1.8–2.6 Ga) complexes of the basement rocks of Tien Shan (metamorphic rocks of the "Kuilyu suite"). These intrusive rocks belong to the high-potassic calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series, with some geochemical signatures also of anorogenic (A-type) magmatism. These intrusions are accompanied by skarn and porphyry W–Mo–Cu–Au mineralization. Together with the other Au, W, and Cu deposits and occurrences, they are parts of the extended metallogenic belt of Tien Shan. The concordant isotopic U–Pb age data for zircon autocrysts indicate the crystallization of quartz syenite (330.7 ± 4.3 Ma) and quartz monzonite (329.5 ± 5.8 Ma) in the latest Early Carboniferous. The distinct W–Mo specialization of ore mineralization related to the intrusions studied is in agreement with the post-collisional tectonic setting during their emplacement, despite their older or similar age compared to the ore-bearing plutons in more western segments of the Middle Tien Shan, which corresponded to a subduction-related setting. This supports the possibility of the "scissor-like" (from east to west) closure of the Turkestan paleoocean that resulted in the earlier cessation of subduction in the eastern Tien Shan compared to the western Tien Shan. The rocks also contain zircon xenocrysts with older (on the order of 1.7–2.6 Ga) age, which is in agreement with the age of the host metamorphic rocks of the Tarim craton basement. This highlights the possibility of magma chamber development in the continental crust, together with the magma chambers in the metasomatically-enriched subcontinental upper mantle, the latter being common for high-potassic magmatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]