Metamorphic evolution of the juvenile Serrinha forearc basin in the southern Brasiliano Orogen

Abstract

Understanding the accretion of an oceanic island arc to a craton is a major issue in unravelling the evolution of the continents. P-T-t conditions registered in metamorphic rocks, the boron isotopic compositions of tourmaline provide essential information to delimit the accretionary processes. The Tonian-Cryogenian São Gabriel Terrane is a prominent juvenile structure in the southern Brasiliano Orogen that records key information about accretionary processes. Limited previous studies have investigated the São Gabriel Terrane, with little presently known about the metamorphic conditions. To pursue the objective, we combined multiple methods, including pseudosection modeling, U-Pb garnet geochronology and δ11B isotopes of tourmaline applied to one key sample from the Serrinha Formation of the São Gabriel Terrane. The recorded peak P-T conditions occurred at 4.5–5.1 kbar and 536–555 °C. U-Pb dating of low-U (<1 ppm) garnet yielded a lower intercept age of 721 ± 14 Ma for the bulk garnet growth. Dravite isotopic δ11B (+0.51 to + 3.39) compositions indicate oceanic crust components present in the island arc rocks. The calculated P-T conditions correspond to the metamorphic peak from heat pulses during burial events. Collision and thrusting of the São Gabriel arc against and over the Rio de La Plata Craton occurred at 721 ± 14 Ma. The evaluation of the parameters obtained in this study indicate a Barrovian-type evolution and a Late Tonian age of metamorphism for the Serrinha Basin. The sedimentation of the Serrinha Basin occurred in a forearc basin of the São Gabriel island arc. Collision of the oceanic arc with the craton is thus better constrained. Our study contains one point in the evolution of the protracted, complex amalgamation of the supercontinent Gondwana during the Brasiliano Orogeny.