Early Palaeozoic metamorphism of Precambrian crust in the Zheltau terrane (Southern Kazakhstan; Central Asian Orogenic belt): P-T paths, protoliths, zircon dating and tectonic implications

Abstract

Palaeoproterozoic amphibole-biotite orthogneisses with a protolith age of ~ 1840 Ma and Neoproterozoic muscovite-chlorite orthogneisses with an estimated protolith age of ~ 790 Ma have been identified in the structure of the Zheltau terrane (Southern Kazakhstan; west Central Asian Orogenic belt). In addition, metasedimentary complexes represented by prevailing garnet-mica schists and subordinate muscovite-chlorite schists with obtained detrital zircon ages in the range of 604 - 2819 Ma (with two peaks at ~ 991 Ma and ~ 1082 Ma) also comprise the Zheltau terrane. In accordance with the Sm-Nd whole-rock isotopic compositions, the protolith of the observed Palaeoproterozoic orthogneisses formed as a result of a mixing of the Neoarchean crustal source with a juvenile source, whereas the formation of the Neoproterozoic orthogneisses protolith may have been related to the melting of Palaeoproterozoic crustal material. In turn, Late Mesoproterozoic – Early Neoproterozoic granitoids or felsic volcanic rocks, which formed as a result of the melting of Palaeoproterozoic continental crust, are considered as possible sources for the studied detrital zircons obtained from the schists. The terrigenous protolith of the schists from the Zheltau terrane accumulated in the range of ~ 600 to ~ 490 Ma, corresponding to the Ediacaran-Cambrian. Subduction processes in the Early Palaeozoic led to the burial of different horizons of the Zheltau terrane continental crust to significant depths; some of the complexes experienced high-pressure metamorphism at P 15 – 18 kbar; T 750 – 850 °C (high-pressure granulites), whereas most of the rocks were evidently metamorphosed at maximum amphibolite facies and avoided high-pressure re-equilibration. The spatial proximity of the studied metamagmatic and metasedimentary crustal complexes and similar metamorphic changes during the latest stages of retrogression imply their possible mutual exhumation from different levels during the period between 490 and 470 Ma and their following juxtaposition as a package of tectonic slices.