Sm[sbnd]Nd, Rb[sbnd]Sr and Th[sbnd]U[sbnd]Pb zircon ages of syn- and post-tectonic granitoids from the Axum area of northern Ethiopia

Abstract

SmNd, RbSr and ThUPb zircon ages for four syn-tectonic and two post-tectonic granitoids from the Axum area of northern Ethiopia are determined. Two of the syn-tectonic granitoids (the Azeho and Deset) are intrusions into structurally southeast facing, predominantly tholeiitic arc metavolcanics and associated metasediments situated west of the central steep zone in the area. The other two syn-tectonic granitoids (the Chila and Rama) are intrusions into structurally northwest facing metasediments and calc-alkaline metavolcanics at the eastern part of the steep zone. One of the post-tectonic granites (the Sibta Granite) occurs west of the central steep zone and the second (the Shire Granite) cuts the central steep zone. Preliminary geochemical data of all the granitoids show that they are enriched in large ion lithophile elements, depleted in high field strength elements and have 1-type characteristics, similar to calc-alkaline granitoids in subduction-related volcanic arc setting. The geochronological data indicate three discrete intrusive events: ∼800 Ma to the east of the central steep zone, ∼750 Ma to the west and a post-tectonic intrusion at around 550 Ma. The ∼-750 and ∼800 Ma ages of the intrusives are interpreted as minimum ages of arc magmatism in the respective blocks across the central steep zone, and the ∼550 Ma age of the post-tectonic granites records the final magmatic event in the region. The contrast of age across the central steep zone emphasises that this zone is a major structural element that might have played a significant role during the accretion of structurally and lithologically contrasting tectonostratigraphical blocks.