Clockwise P−T−t paths of late Neoarchean high-pressure pelitic granulites from the Qingyuan terrane, eastern North China Craton

Abstract

Precambrian high-pressure (HP) granulites provide record for the geodynamic process of ancient continental nuclei. Here we report the newly discovered late Neoarchean HP pelitic granulites in the Qingyuan terrane, eastern North China Craton (NCC). The Neoarchean basement of the Qingyuan terrane comprises meta-supracrustal rocks, tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) gneisses, and a small amount of charnockites. The HP pelitic granulites were recognized from the meta-supracrustal rocks as fragments within the TTG gneisses. Detailed petrographic observations, mineral chemistry and phase equilibrium modelling results show that the prograde stage (M1) of HP pelitic granulites can be presented by the inclusions of garnet porphyroblasts including kyanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite and ilmenite. The prograde P−T conditions were constructed via melt-reintegration approach and Ti-in-quartz thermometer (710–745 °C at 8–9.3 kbar). The peak stage (M2) can be represented by the core of garnet porphyroblasts and matrix minerals containing kyanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite, K-feldspar and rutile with the P−T conditions of 12.2–13.6 kbar and 800–825 °C retrieved by Ti-in-quartz thermometer, garnet-Al2SiO5-plagioclase-quartz (GASP) barometer, garnet barometer and phase equilibria modelling. The peak metamorphic P−T conditions suggest that surficial sediments have been brought to a depth over 40 km. The post-peak stage (M3) is presented by the inner rim of garnet porphyroblasts (recorded in QY01) or the core of garnet (recorded in QY02) with some matrix minerals containing sillimanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite, K-feldspar and ilmenite, indicating the P−T conditions of 7.8–9.0 kbar and 810 °C combined with Ti-in-quartz thermometer, GASP barometer, garnet barometer and phase equilibria modelling. The final retrograde stage (M4) is presented by the minor matrix sillimanite, plagioclase, quartz, K-feldspar, ilmenite and biotite with the absence of melt and the P−T conditions of 668–733 °C at 5–8 kbar using Ti-in-biotite thermometer. Monazite LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating reveals the peak or near peak metamorphic ages ∼2.49 Ga of the HP pelitic granulites. Therefore, the HP pelitic granulites of the Qingyuan terrane record the clockwise P−T−t paths with sequential isothermal decompression (ITD) and isobaric cooling (IBC) segments, suggesting a subduction−collision environment at the late Neoarchean (∼2.49 Ga) in the eastern NCC.