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The Volgo-Uralia segment, which constitutes one fourth of the East European Craton, is covered by sedimentary deposits. From geophysical studies and examination of thousands of drillcores, Volgo-Uralia has been recognised as a vast high-grade terrain with a complex crustal history extending from the Palaeoarchaean to the Palaeoproterozoic. Our recent studies are focused on the search for the oldest crust formation event by extracting whole rock Sm-Nd and zircon U-Th-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope information from samples recovered by drilling in southern Volgo-Uralia. Particular attention is devoted to the Kolyvan charnockitoid rock suite, which makes up several large areas of gneisses and granitoids of enderbite, charnockite and tonalite composition.\ud \ud \ud \ud The zircon from the granitoids show complex internal structures and consists of large magmatic cores with oscillatory zoning, surrounded by CL black-and-bright bands of metamorphic rims. The crystallisation age of the cores is defined as 3140 ± 7 Ma (SHRIMP) and 3127 ± 46 Ma (LA-ICPMS), while the CL-bright rims are dated at 1950 ± 25 Ma (LA-ICPMS). The ingressive recrystallisation of primary magmatic zircon correlates with depletion in REE, which is observed in each studied core-rim pair. No differences in O-isotopic compositions have been detected between the cores and the rims. δO18 values with an average of 5.8 ± 0.3‰ (1SD) implying that no supracrustal rocks were involved in the source of the Kolyvan melts. The Hf-isotope compositions of magmatic cores (−3 to −9 εHfT) and metamorphic rims (−14 to −28 εHfT), and their similar crustal model ages from 3.42 to 3.86 Ga indicate Eo- to Palaeoarchaean crustal sources for the charnockitic magmas. Sm-Nd model ages of ca 3.46 Ga for the Kolyvan rocks are consistent with the zircon Hf-isotope data and indicate a long crustal prehistory of a source of the Mesoarchaean magmas.\ud \ud \ud \ud We conclude that the Mesoarchaean Kolyvan suite rocks was formed by reworking of Eo- to Palaeoarchaean lithosphere, which probably had been widespread throughout Volgo-Uralia. The obtained geochemical and isotope data can be reconciled in a model of deep mantle-plume activity at 3.1 Ga causing mantle underplating, extension of the Palaeoarchaean crust and high-T magmatism.

Archean geological records are increasingly interpreted to indicate a ≤3.2 Ga initiation of plate tectonics on Earth. This hypothesis contrasts with dominant plate tectonic interpretations for the Eoarchean (ca. 4.0–3.6 Ga) Isua supracrustal belt (southwest Greenland). Alternatively, recent work shows the belt could have formed via heat-pipe tectonics. Predicted strain distributions across the belt vary between models. Plate tectonic models predict a dominant unidirectional shear sense, corresponding to subduction vergence, and strain localization within ∼10-m-scale shear zones. In contrast, the proposed heat-pipe model predicts two opposing shear senses, corresponding to opposite limbs of 0.1-m to km-scale a-type folds (i.e., sheath and curtain folds), with relatively equal strain distributed across the belt. Here, we present the first microstructure study using thin-section petrography and electron backscatter diffraction analysis on quartz of oriented samples from throughout the Isua supracrustal belt. Key findings are: (1) the Eoarchean Isua supracrustal belt was deformed at ∼500°C–650°C, with potential postdeformational recovery at similar or lower temperatures, (2) the spatial distribution of the two opposing shear senses which dominate the belt (top-to-southeast and top-to-northwest) appears to be random, and (3) the strain intensity across the belt appears to be quasiuniform as evidenced by the uniformly low (mostly

The Eoarchean Isua supracrustal belt (ISB) has been interpreted as one of the earliest records of subduction processes, leading to the conclusion that a plate tectonic geodynamic system was likely operating since the early Archean. However, proposed tectonic models remain difficult to evaluate as our understanding of the metamorphic and structural evolution remains fragmentary. Here, we present a metamorphic study of the supracrustal rocks of the ISB. We used petrographic and microstructural observations, phase equilibria, isopleth geothermobarometry, and conventional thermometry to explore the prograde, peak, and retrograde metamorphic evolution of the northeastern ISB. Our results show that the ISB records a syn‐tectonic, amphibolite facies metamorphic event (M1) with peak conditions of 550°C–600°C and 0.5–0.7 GPa. M1 was followed by a static, lower amphibolite facies metamorphic event (M2; 3.5 Ga) and the Neoarchean (

The record of metamorphic conditions is commonly highly heterogeneous in spatially close rocks of different composition and rheology. The well-studied Cima di Gagnone area in the Central Alps represents such an example, as relatively small, 1– to 100 s-meter scale, ultrahigh–pressure and high–temperature ultramafic lenses are enveloped within amphibolite–facies metasediments. We present new field observations, microstructural and petrological analyses, and thermodynamic modelling results on these metasediments, showing that these rocks generally experienced medium pressure and medium temperature conditions of 1.0–1.2 GPa and 640–700 °C, followed by a retrograde stage around 0.6–0.8 GPa and 600–675 °C. However, a few samples from the immediate proximity of the ultramafic lenses record significantly higher P–T conditions of 1.3–1.7 GPa and 750–850 °C, approaching the high pressure and high temperature conditions of the ultramafic bodies (1.5–3.1 GPa, 650–850 °C). Mineral/bulk chemistry changes during growth of new mineral phases hint to local melt/fluid interaction (i.e., metasomatism) between metasediments and ultramafics during the high temperature deformation. Preliminary U-Pb LA–ICP–MS dating suggests that zircon grains from the metasomatic reaction zone have been fully re–equilibrated during the early stage of Alpine exhumation (~36 Ma), while the large part of the metasediments records only pre–Alpine ages. We finally recast these new data into the regional P–T–t–D paths and discuss the consequences of these findings for understanding the exhumation processes of HP rocks. We found different local equilibria (ΔP up to 2 GPa; ΔT up to 160 °C) that cannot be explained simply by retrograde metamorphism or by tectonic amalgamation. Rather, our work suggests a significant role of deformation in producing variable pressure and temperature record within the rocks.

Localized rheological weakening is required to initiate and sustain intracontinental orogenesis, but the reasons for weakening remain debated. The intracontinental Alice Springs orogen dominates the lithospheric architecture of central Australia and involved prolonged (450–300 Ma) but episodic mountain building. The mid-crustal core of the orogen is exposed at its eastern margin, where field relationships and microstructures demonstrate that deformation was accommodated in biotite-rich shear zones. Rheological weakening was caused by localized melt-present deformation coupled with melt-induced reaction softening. This interpretation is supported by the coeval and episodic nature of melt-present deformation, igneous activity, and sediment shed from the developing orogen. This study identifies localized melt availability as an important ingredient enabling intracontinental orogenesis.

Melt must transfer through the lower crust, yet the field signatures and mechanisms involved in such transfer zones (excluding dykes) are still poorly understood. We report field and microstructural evidence of a deformation‐assisted melt transfer zone that developed in the lower crustal magmatic arc environment of Fiordland, New Zealand. A 30–40 m wide hornblende‐rich body comprising hornblende ± clinozoisite and/or garnet exhibits 'igneous‐like' features and is hosted within a metamorphic, two‐pyroxene–pargasite gabbroic gneiss (GG). Previous studies have interpreted the hornblende‐rich body as an igneous cumulate or a mass transfer zone. We present field and microstructural characteristics supporting the later and indicating the body has formed by deformation‐assisted, channelized, reactive porous melt flow. The host granulite facies GG contains distinctive rectilinear dykes and garnet reaction zones (GRZ) from earlier in the geological history; these form important reaction and strain markers. Field observations show that the mineral assemblages and microstructures of the GG and GRZ are progressively modified with proximity to the hornblende‐rich body. At the same time, GRZ bend systematically into the hornblende‐rich body on each side of the unit, showing apparent sinistral shearing. Within the hornblende‐rich body itself, microstructures and electron back‐scatter diffraction mapping show evidence of the former presence of melt including observations consistent with melt crystallization within pore spaces, elongate pseudomorphs of melt films along grain boundaries, minerals with low dihedral angles as small as

This contribution discusses results obtained from 3-D neutron diffraction and 2-D fabric analyser in situ deformation experiments on laboratory-prepared polycrystalline deuterated ice and ice containing a second phase. The two-phase samples used in the experiments are composed of an ice matrix with (1) air bubbles, (2) rigid, rhombohedral-shaped calcite and (3) rheologically soft, platy graphite. Samples were tested at 10°C below the melting point of deuterated ice at ambient pressures, and two strain rates of 1 × 10−5 s−1 (fast) and 2.5 × 10−6 s−1 (medium). Nature and distribution of the second phase controlled the rheological behaviour of the ice by pinning grain boundary migration. Peak stresses increased with the presence of second-phase particles and during fast strain rate cycles. Ice-only samples exhibit well-developed crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) and dynamically recrystallized microstructures, typifying deformation via dislocation creep, where the CPO intensity is influenced in part by the strain rate. CPOs are accompanied by a concentration of [c]-axes in cones about the compression axis, coinciding with increasing activity of prismatic- slip activity. Ice with second phases, deformed in a relatively slower strain rate regime, exhibit greater grain boundary migration and stronger CPO intensities than samples deformed at higher strain rates or strain rate cycles.

A novel method utilizing crystallographic orientation and mineral chemistry data, based on large-scale electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and microbeam analysis, quantifies the proportion of relict igneous and neoblastic minerals forming variably deformed high-grade orthogneiss. The Cretaceous orthogneiss from Fiordland, New Zealand, comprises intermediate omphacite granulite interlayered with basic eclogite, which was metamorphosed and deformed at T ≈ 850 °C and P ≈ 1.8 GPa after protolith cooling. Detailed mapping of microstructural and physiochemical relations in two strain profiles through subtly distinct intermediate protoliths indicates that up to 32% of the orthogneiss mineralogy is igneous, with the remainder being metamorphic. Domains dominated by igneous minerals occur preferentially in strain shadows to eclogite pods. Distinct metamorphic stages can be identified by texture and chemistry and were at least partially controlled by strain magnitude. At the grain-scale, the coupling of metamorphism and crystal plastic deformation appears to have permitted efficient transformation of an originally igneous assemblage. The effective distinction between igneous and metamorphic paragenesis and their links to deformation history enables greater clarity in interpretations of the makeup of the crust and their causal influence on lithospheric scale processes.

The accommodation of intraplate stresses in preexisting weak regions of plate interiors is here investigated using thin viscous sheet numerical models. The intraplate stresses are governed by multicomponent and multidirectional stresses originating at plate boundaries. The modeled scenarios mimic plate boundary conditions during the intraplate Alice Springs Orogeny (ASO), central Australia, and include (1) a northwest‐southeast zone of weak lithosphere within strong continental blocks to the north and southand (2) a principal south directed stress condition at the northern boundary that causes minor clockwise rotation of the northern block. Alternative tectonic environments are investigated in additional models that include (1) secondary compressional or extensional stresses acting at the eastern boundary, representing the temporally variable stress conditions during the Tasmanides Orogeny, and (2) an eastern wedge‐shaped zone of rheologically weak lithosphere, mirroring rift fill of the Irindina subbasin. Our results highlight that a low angle between major crustal features (e.g., orogenic elongation and preexisting regional structures) and the principal transmitted stresses is highly relevant in the concentration of elevated levels of differential stress and subsequent localization of deformation in plate interiors. Secondary stresses orthogonal to the principal acting stresses may introduce effects that explain the episodic orogenic activity in the case of the ASO. The combination of secondary extensional stresses at the eastern boundary of Australia and weak lithosphere of the preexisting Irindina subbasin strongly influences the observed spatial strain intensity, localization, and kinematics of deformation during the ASO.