New Data on the Age of Metamorphic Rocks from the Granite-greenstone Ruker Terrane (Southern Prince Charlies Mountains, East Antarctica)

Abstract

This work presents results of isotope studies of primary igneous and sedimentary rocks of Mawson and Menzies series from the southern Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica. The data obtained show that the crystallization of the protolith of Mawson orthogneisses occurred at 3164.2 ± 9.2--3163.2 ± 7.8 Ma ago. The Mawson orthogneisses were the basement for accumulation of the deposits of the Menzies series. The maximum time of the deposition is estimated to be in a range of 3.0--3.1 Ga. The protolith of Menzies sedimentary deposits contains an admixture of the Paleoarchean material.