Prolonged Neoproterozoic high‐grade metamorphism of the Wanni Complex, Sri Lanka: New insights from petrology, phase equilibria modelling, and zircon U–Pb geochronology of partially melted cordierite gneiss from Walpita

Abstract

We report new petrological and geochronological data of garnet‐cordierite (Grt‐Crd) gneiss as well as two types of leucocratic rocks (garnet‐bearing and cordierite‐bearing leucosomes) crystallized during prograde and near‐peak metamorphisms of the Wanni Complex (WC) in Sri Lanka, and investigate the pressure–temperature–time evolution of granulite‐facies metamorphism for unravelling the timing and tectonics of the Neoproterozoic collisional processes related to Gondwana amalgamation. Grt‐Crd gneiss, garnet‐biotite (Grt‐Bt) gneiss, garnet‐bearing leucocratic rock (Grt‐L), and cordierite‐bearing leucocratic rock (Crd‐L) discussed in this study were collected from Walpita in the margin of the WC along the boundary with the Highland Complex (HC). Grt‐L occurs as thin layers parallel to the foliation of matrix Grt‐Bt and Grt‐Crd gneisses. The occurrences of porphyroblastic garnet in quartzo‐feldspathic matrix and crystallised melt inclusions within the garnet suggest that the Grt‐L could have formed by partial melting of host Grt‐Bt gneiss during prograde to peak metamorphism. Crd‐L is coarse‐grained and massive, lacks obvious foliation, and crosscuts the foliation of host Grt‐Bt gneiss. These observations suggest that the Crd‐L could have intruded after the crystallization of the Grt‐L. Application of phase equilibria modelling in the system NCKFMASHTO for the rocks yielded three discrete thermal events: 600–800°C/4.0–6.0 kbar (Stage 1 from Grt‐L), 700–840°C/5.5–7.0 kbar (Stage 2 from Grt‐Crd gneiss), and 840–880°C/4.5–5.5 kbar (Stage 3 from Crd‐L), suggesting a clockwise P–T evolution. LA‐ICP‐MS zircon U–Pb dating of the leucosomes yielded several metamorphic events: >577 Ma (partial melting of Grt‐L), ~562 Ma (crystallization of Grt‐L), 537 ± 14 Ma (peak metamorphism and crystallization of Crd‐L), and 507–503 Ma (post‐peak cooling event). The results of this study therefore confirmed prolonged (>70 Myr) high‐grade metamorphism of the WC, although the duration might be shorter than that of the HC (>100 Ma). The continuous heat supply necessary for such long‐lived high‐grade metamorphism is explained by a recent tectonic model of Sri Lanka. The model suggests double‐sided subduction and continent‐continent collision, which could have given rise to subsequent slab delamination and differential heating of lower to middle crust. Such complex subduction–collision processes possibly controlled the difference in the style of P–T path and the duration of high‐grade metamorphism between the HC and the WC.