Zircon U-Pb geochronology and Lu-Hf isotope systematics of the Araguaia Belt basement Rocks: Evidence of links with the southeastern Amazonian Craton, Brazil

Abstract

Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement rocks are exposed in the Araguaia Belt, a Neoproterozoic orogen bordering the eastern portion of the Amazonian Craton. Zircon LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic systematics allowed a more accurate dating of the basement rocks and investigating the evolution of this large Archean/Paleoproterozoic crustal segment and discuss the relationship with the southeastern Amazonian Craton. Archean TTG orthogneisses (2.93 to 2.87 Ga) prevail in the northern belt while distinct magmatic events generated their protoliths in approximately 60 Ma. Zircon Hf model ages (~3.0 to 3.4 Ga) and ƐHf(2.87-2.93) from −4.3 to +5.3 suggest crustal reworking of Mesoarchean juvenile sources, with the subordinated contribution of older crust. A Mesoarchean source is also indicated by the Hf model ages (2.93–3.25 Ga) and ƐHf(−1.86 Ga) from −4.8 to −1.6 of a 1.86 Ga granitic gneiss intrusive in the Archean TTG. An orthogneiss and an intrusive granitoid from southern segment of the belt were dated 2.06 Ga and 1.87 Ga, respectively. The Hf model ages (2.65–2.86 Ga) determined for these rocks, the ƐHf(-2.06 Ga) (−4.8 to −1.6) for the orthogneiss and the ƐHf(1.87 Ga) (−15.8 to −9.7) found for the granitoid reveal a dominant crustal source for the southern basement rocks. The Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement constituted a single crustal segment by the Orosirian, since both segments present intrusive granites of this geological period. The Archean orthogneisses of the Araguaia Belt and the granitoids of the Carajás Province Mesoarchean domains in southeastern Amazonian Craton share some similarities, such as the TTG affinity magmatism formed in a relatively similar time interval, the Orosirian intrusive granites, and the Mesoarchean juvenile source. Therefore, the basement rocks cropping out in the northern segment of the Araguaia Belt may represent portions of the adjacent Amazonian Craton.