Archean Metasedimentary Rocks Research Articles

Giant Mesozoic gold ores derived from subducted oceanic slab and overlying sediments

Orogenic gold deposits account for more than 30 % of the global gold resources. To understand the genesis of orogenic gold deposits and ultimately target new orogenic gold deposits, it is important to determine the origin of gold. However, there has been a continuing debate surrounding gold source reservoirs. The Jiaodong gold province, comprising ore hosted within Mesozoic granitoids that intruded Archean metamorphic rocks, together with other gold occurrences in the North China block, collectively constitute the only Mesozoic world-class gold resource in a Precambrian basement. This geological setting, with young deposits in ancient rocks, offers a great opportunity to better determine the gold source because it allows us to fingerprint the isotopically distinct reservoirs. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether the mass-independent isotopic fractionation sulfur (MIF-S)-bearing Archean supracrustal rocks that form the lower crust are a permissive source. We present multiple sulfur isotope (δ34S and Δ33S) measurements of pyrite grains (n = 161) from 18 gold deposits in the six main districts of the Mesozoic Jiaodong gold province. Gold-associated pyrite grains yield non-MIF-S signatures (Δ33S = 0 ‰), indicating that Archean metasedimentary rocks are not a source reservoir of sulfur and gold. The isotopically heavy S (average δ34S = +9.0 ± 3.7 ‰, 2SD) demonstrates a sulfur contribution from a subducted oceanic slab and, in particular, its overlying sediments while excluding mantle and magmatic sources. The subduction-related metamorphism released appreciable gold and sulfur from the top of the downgoing slab into aqueous-carbonic fluids that ascended into the upper plate along crustal structures traversing a tectonically thinned crust. Here, we demonstrate that these giant Mesozoic orogenic gold deposits sourced gold and sulfur during subduction-related devolatilization reactions.

Seeking Earth’s oldest geological record: an unexpected discovery of well-preserved 3834 Ma metatonalite

One of Greenland’s largest bodies of Archean (meta)sedimentary rocks occurs on the ∼5.5 by 2.0 km nunatak Isortup Nunataa (∼65°31′N 49°54′W) and is ∼35 km north of the Eoarchean Isua supracrustal belt with its world’s best record of early sedimentary and volcanic systems. The nunatak was visited to ascertain if its metasedimentary rocks are also Eoarchean and thereby provide extra insight into the early Earth. The metasedimentary rocks are derived from a ca 3060 Ma arc-like volcanogenic source and can be assigned to the Akia terrane that crops out immediately to the west. However, glacial erratics scattered over the nunatak indicate there are well-preserved Eoarchean rocks including 3834 Ma metatonalite hidden to the east under the Inland Ice. This demonstrates there are still occurrences of Eoarchean rocks out there to be found—by a mix of logic and luck. These findings will all enhance our knowledge of the early Earth, to help answer the big questions about the important early events that shaped our planet. KEY POINTS The nunatak Isortup Nunataa (West Greenland) is dominated by ca 3060 Ma arc-like volcanogenic metasedimentary rocks that are assigned to the Akia terrane, which crops out immediately to the west. Glacial erratics, including 3834 Ma metatonalite scattered over the nunatak, indicate there are well-preserved Eoarchean rocks hidden to the east under the Inland Ice. Any new findings of Eoarchean rocks will enhance our understanding of the early Earth.

Methane from microbial hydrogenolysis of sediment organic matter before the Great Oxidation Event

Methane, along with other short-chain alkanes from some Archean metasedimentary rocks, has unique isotopic signatures that possibly reflect the generation of atmospheric greenhouse gas on early Earth. We find that alkane gases from the Kidd Creek mines in the Canadian Shield are microbial products in a Neoarchean ecosystem. The widely varied hydrogen and relatively uniform carbon isotopic compositions in the alkanes infer that the alkanes result from the biodegradation of sediment organic matter with serpentinization-derived hydrogen gas. This proposed process is supported by published geochemical data on the Kidd Creek gas, including the distribution of alkane abundances, stable isotope variations in alkanes, and CH2D2 signatures in methane. The recognition of Archean microbial methane in this work reveals a biochemical process of greenhouse gas generation before the Great Oxidation Event and improves the understanding of the carbon and hydrogen geochemical cycles.

Detrital Chromite from Jack Hills, Western Australia: Signatures of Metamorphism and Constraints on Provenance

Abstract Detrital chromites are commonly reported within Archean metasedimentary rocks, but have thus far garnered little attention for use in provenance studies. Systematic variations of Cr–Fe spinel mineral chemistry with changing tectonic setting have resulted in the extensive use of chromite as a petrogenetic indicator, and so detrital chromites represent good candidates to investigate the petrogenesis of eroded Archean mafic and ultramafic crust. Here, we report the compositions of detrital chromites within fuchsitic (Cr-muscovite rich) metasedimentary rocks from the Jack Hills, situated within the Narryer Terrane, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia, which are geologically renowned for hosting Hadean (>4000 Ma) zircons. We highlight signatures of metamorphism, including highly elevated ZnO and MnO, coupled with lowered Mg# in comparison with magmatic chromites, development of pitted domains, and replacement of primary inclusions by phases that are part of the metamorphic assemblages within host metasedimentary rocks. Oxygen isotope compositions of detrital chromites record variable exchange with host metasedimentary rocks. The variability of metamorphic signatures between chromites sampled only meters apart further indicates that modification occurred in situ by interaction of detrital chromites with metamorphic fluids and secondary mineral assemblages. Alteration probably occurred during upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies metamorphism and deformation of host metasedimentary rocks at ∼2650 Ma. Regardless of metamorphic signatures, sampling location or grain shape, chromite cores yield a consistent range in Cr#. Although other key petrogenetic indices, such as Fe2O3 and TiO2 contents, are complicated in Jack Hills chromites by mineral non-stoichiometry and secondary mobility within metasedimentary rocks, we demonstrate that the Cr# of chromite yields significant insights into their provenance. Importantly, moderate Cr# (typically 55–70) precludes a komatiitic origin for the bulk of chromites, reflecting a dearth of komatiites and intrusive equivalents within the erosional catchment of the Jack Hills metasedimentary units. We suggest that the Cr# of Jack Hills chromite fits well with chromites derived from layered intrusions, and that a single layered intrusion may account for the observed chemical compositions of Jack Hills detrital chromites. Where detailed characterization of key metamorphic signatures is undertaken, detrital chromites preserved within Archean metasedimentary rocks may therefore yield valuable information on the petrogenesis and geodynamic setting of poorly preserved mafic and ultramafic crust.

A zircon petrochronologic view on granitoids and continental evolution

Temporal trends in granitoid chemistry and thermometry constrain major global changes in magmatism, tectonism or crustal thickness in the continents. Our study relies on zircon geochronology and trace element geochemistry on four new detrital rocks (two modern sediments and two Archean metasedimentary rocks) and a global compilation of published single zircon detrital chronology and trace chemistry data acquired on 5587 individual grains. Zircons of all ages from 4.4 Ga to present exist in this archive. Ti-in-zircon thermometry indicates that more than 98% of the grains with concordant U-Pb ages formed at temperatures exceeding 650°C. The great majority of these zircons formed in the 650–850°C range consistent with growth in intermediate to silicic magmas. Magmatic temperatures increased over time for the first 1.2 Ga of Earth's history after which they stayed constant before decreasing during the more recent past. U/Th<5 values in the overwhelming majority of grains are consistent with a magmatic origin. La/Yb, Sm/Yb and Eu/Eu* values are relatively constant throughout the history of the Earth suggesting that most granitoids formed at, or evolved from magmatic reservoirs located at depths of 35–45 km in the presence of amphibole, garnet and limited plagioclase. Such reservoirs are common today in hot deep crustal environments beneath some of the thicker island arcs and all continental arcs along subduction zones. Processes other than modern day style subduction may have contributed to the formation of granitoids in the early Earth but temperatures, depths and the presence of water arbitrated by the presence of amphibole were similar. These results also suggest that the thickness of continental crust in areas that produced granitoids was similar to today's global average throughout the 4.4 Ga time period covered by the zircon archive. There is no correlation between zircon chemistry over time and the assembly of supercontinents.

The sign of Δ33S is independent of pyrite morphology

Previous bulk sulphide analyses have suggested a correlation between the morphology of pyrite in Archean metasedimentary rocks and the sign of associated Δ33S. However, it remains to be determined whether such a correlation exists and what the underlying mechanism is. This study measured the multiple sulphur isotopic compositions of pyrite nodules and disseminated pyrite grains from two typical Neoarchean shale samples with SHRIMP-SI, following detailed textural investigations by sodium hypochlorite etching and electron microscopy. The Roy Hill Shale sample shows two generations of pyrite in both nodules and disseminated grains reflected by textures. The first generation is Δ33S-weakly negative while the second generation is Δ33S-highly positive. Both generations of pyrite show linear relationships between δ34S and Δ33S, although generation two displays wider ranges of δ34S and Δ33S compared with generation one. In the Δ33S-Δ36S diagram, generation two plots along the Archean Reference Array (ARA, Δ36S/Δ33S ≈ −1) whereas generation one deviates from the ARA in a trend similar to the Biological Fractionation Line (Δ36S/Δ33S ≈ −7). The Nammuldi shale sample also exhibits two generations of pyrite, both of which are Δ33S- and δ34S-positive albeit of different magnitude. For these two shale samples, the sign of Δ33S is not associated with the pyrite morphology. A plausible explanation for the morphology-specific Δ33S reported in previous studies could be related to bulk analyses involving pyrite of different generations with opposite Δ33S. Furthermore, based on the distribution of the earlier nodular and disseminated pyrite in both samples, a model involving four stages is proposed for the formation of pyrite nodules studied here: (1) formation of pyrite framboids composed of microcrystalline pyrite, (2) dissolution of framboidal pyrite and reprecipitation to generate larger single pyrite crystals, (3) aggregation of single pyrite crystals into nodules, and (4) injection of later hydrothermal fluids.

Age, geological setting, and paragenesis of heavy rare earth element mineralization of the Tanami region, Western Australia

Metasedimentary rock-hosted heavy rare earth element (HREE) mineralization occurs as numerous orebodies distributed across a large district of the Tanami region of central Australia, close to a regional unconformity between Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Browns Range Metamorphics (BRM) and overlying Proterozoic Birrindudu Group sandstones. The orebodies consist predominantly of quartz, xenotime, and minor florencite and occur along steeply dipping structures within a stockwork of hydrothermal veins and breccias. Paragenetic stages of the mineralization include (1) a pre-ore stage of a greenschist-facies overprint of detrital minerals including quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, and muscovite aligned in the premineralization foliation; (2) syn-ore quartz and white mica alteration associated with a multistage mineralization of the ore minerals, primarily in breccias and veins; and (3) a post-ore stage of veining and brecciation forming several generations of quartz, plus hematite, barite, anhydrite, and pyrite. In situ U–Pb dating of xenotime from several deposits/prospects yielded an age range for mineralization of 1.65 to 1.60 Ga; this timeframe lacks local magmatism or orogeny and is significantly younger than the ca. 1.72 Ga 40Ar/39Ar age of the pre-ore muscovite. Far-field stresses associated with the distal Isan and Liebig Orogenies are invoked as drivers of large-scale fluid flow and fault (re)activation in the region. We propose that ore formation was achieved via fluid leaching of REE from the BRM, followed by fluid mixing in fault zones, especially in the vicinity of the unconformity between the BRM and overlying Birrindudu Group sandstones. This mineralization style shares many features with unconformity-related U deposits, and there is significant potential for discovery of further REE orebodies of this style, especially in the vicinity of regional unconformities, in intercontinental sedimentary basins.

The ~1.85 Ga carbonatite in north China and its implications on the evolution of the Columbia supercontinent

Mantle-derived carbonatites provide a unique window in the understanding of mantle characteristics and dynamics, as well as insight into the assembly and breakup of supercontinents. As a petrological indicator of extensional tectonic regimes, Archean/Proterozoic carbonatites provide important constraints on the timing of the breakup of ancient supercontinents. The majority of the carbonatites reported worldwide are Phanerozoic, in part because of the difficulty in recognizing Archean/Proterozoic carbonatites, which are characterized by strong foliation and recrystallization, and share broad petrologic similarities with metamorphosed sedimentary lithologies. Here, we report the recognition of a ~1.85 Ga carbonatite in Chaihulanzi area of Chifeng in north China based on systematic geological, petrological, geochemical, and baddeleyite U-Pb geochronological results. The carbonatite occurs as dikes or sills emplaced in Archean metasedimentary rocks and underwent intense deformation. Petrological and SEM/EDS results show that calcite and dolomite are the dominant carbonate minerals along with minor and varied amounts of Mg-rich mafic minerals, including forsterite (with Fo > 98), phlogopite, diopside, and an accessory amount of apatite, baddeleyite, spinel, monazite, and ilmenite. The relatively high silica content together with the non-arc and OIB-like trace element signatures of the carbonatite indicates a hot mantle plume as the likely magma source. The depleted Nd isotopic signatures suggest that plume upwelling might be triggered by the accumulation of recycled crust in the deep mantle. As a part of the global-scale Columbia supercontinent, the Proterozoic tectonic evolution of the North China Craton (NCC) provides important insights into the geodynamics governing amalgamation and fragmentation of the supercontinent. The Paleo-Mesoproterozoic boundary is the key point of tectonic transition from compressional to extensional settings in the NCC. The newly identified ~1.85 Ga carbonatite provides a direct link between the long-lasting supercontinental breakup and plume activity, which might be sourced from the “slab graveyard,” continental crustal slabs subducted into asthenosphere, beneath the supercontinent. The carbonatite provides a precise constraint of the initiation of the continental breakup at ~1.85 Ga.

Unconformity-Related Rare Earth Element Deposits: A Regional-Scale Hydrothermal Mineralization Type of Northern Australia

Rare earth element (REE) orebodies are typically associated with alkaline igneous rocks or develop as placer or laterite deposits. Here, we describe an economically important heavy (H)REE mineralization type that is entirely hydrothermal in origin with no demonstrable links to magmatism. The mineralization occurs as numerous xenotime-rich vein and breccia orebodies across a large area of northern Australia but particularly close to a regional unconformity between Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Browns Range Metamorphics and overlying Proterozoic sandstones of the Birrindudu Group. The deposits formed at 1.65 to 1.61 Ga along steeply dipping faults; there is no known local igneous activity at this time. Depletion of HREEs in the Browns Range Metamorphics, together with the similar nonradiogenic Nd isotope composition of the orebodies and the Browns Range Metamorphics, indicates that ore metals were leached directly from the Browns Range metasedimentary rocks. We propose an ore genesis model that involves fluid leaching HREEs from the Browns Range Metamorphics and subsequently mixing with P-bearing acidic fluid from the overlying sandstones in fault zones near the unconformity. The union of P and HREEs via fluid mixing in a low-Ca environment triggered extensive xenotime precipitation. This mineralization is unlike that of any other class of REE ore deposit but has a similar setting to unconformity-related U deposits of Australia and Canada, so we assign it the label “unconformity-related REE.” Further discoveries of this REE mineralization type are expected near regional unconformities within Proterozoic intracontinental sedimentary basins across the globe.

Provenance, tectonic setting and source of Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Browns Range Metamorphics, Tanami Region, Western Australia

ABSTRACTThis study combines U–Pb age and Lu–Hf isotope data for magmatic and detrital zircons, with whole-rock geochemistry of the Browns Range Metamorphics (BRM), Western Australia. The BRM are medium- to coarse-grained metasandstones that consist of angular to sub-rounded detrital quartz and feldspars with minor granitic lithic fragments. The sequence has undergone partial to extensive quartz–muscovite alteration and rare-earth-element mineralisation and has been intruded by mafic/ultramafic, syenitic and pegmatitic intrusive rock units. Uranium–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data on detrital zircons from the metasandstones and intruding granitic rocks yield a well-defined age of ca 3.2 to ca 3.0 Ga for all samples, with relatively radiogenic ϵHf values (ϵHf = –1.7 to 5.1) indicating derivation from Mesoarchean granite basement of juvenile origin. This is consistent with geochemical and petrological data that support deposition from a granitic source in a continental rift basin setting. The timing of sediment deposition is constrained between the ca 3.0 Ga age of the source rocks and ca 2.5 Ga age of the granitic intrusive bodies that cross-cut the metasedimentary rocks. The ca 2.5 Ga zircons from the intrusive rocks have ϵHf model ages of ca 3.4 to ca 3.1 Ga, which is consistent with formation via partial melting of the BRM, or the Mesoarchean granite basement. Zircons of the Gardiner Sandstone that unconformably overlies the BRM return detrital ages of ca 2.6 to ca 1.8 Ga with no trace of ca 3.1 Ga zircons, which discounts a significant contribution from the underlying BRM. The Mesoarchean age and isotopic signatures of the BRM zircons are shared by some zircon records from the Pine Creek Orogen, and the Pilbara, Yilgarn and Gawler cratons. Collectively, these records indicate that juvenile Mesoarchean crust is a more significant component of Australian cratons than is currently recognised. This work also further demonstrates that detrital minerals in Paleoproterozoic/Archean sedimentary rocks are archives to study the early crustal record of Earth.

Erosion of Archean continents: The Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopic record of Barberton sedimentary rocks

Knowing the composition, nature and amount of crust at the surface of the early Earth is crucial to understanding the early geodynamics of our planet. Yet our knowledge of the Hadean-Archean crust is far from complete, limited by the poor preservation of Archean terranes, and the fact that less attention has been paid to the sedimentary record that tracks erosion of these ancient remnants. To address this problem and get a more comprehensive view of what an Archean continent may have looked like, we investigated the trace element and Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf isotopic records of Archean metasedimentary rocks from South Africa. We focused our study on sandstone and mudstone from drill core in the Fig Tree Group (3.23–3.26Ga) of the Barberton granite-greenstone belt, but also analyzed the 3.4Ga Buck Reef cherts and still older (3.5–3.6Ga) meta-igneous rocks from the Ancient Gneiss Complex, Swaziland.Based on principal component analysis of major and trace element data, the Fig Tree metasedimentary rocks can be classified into three groups: crustal detritus-rich sediments, Si-rich sediments and Ca-, Fe-rich sediments. The detritus-rich sediments have preserved the Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopic signatures of their continental sources, and hence can be used to constrain the composition of crust eroded in the Barberton area in the Paleoarchean period. Based on Sm/Nd ratios, we estimate that this crust was more mafic than today, with an average SiO2 content of 60.5±2wt.%. This composition is further supported by isotopic mixing calculations suggesting that the sedimentary source area contained equal proportions of mafic-ultramafic and felsic rocks. This implies that the Archean crust exposed to weathering was more mafic than today but does not exclude a more felsic composition at depth. Neodymium and Hf crustal residence ages show that the eroded crust was, on average, ∼300–400Ma older than the deposition age of the sediments, which highlights the importance of intracrustal reworking of older crust at ∼3.2Ga in the Barberton area.The Si-rich sediments have slightly positive εNd (t=3.23Ga) but extremely radiogenic εHf (t=3.23Ga), up to +11. Based on analyses of 3.4Ga Buck Reef cherts, we suggest that the radiogenic Hf isotopic signature of the Si-rich sediments can be accounted for by the old chert clasts or detrital silicified rock fragments present in the rocks. The latter have extremely high Lu/Hf ratios such that their εHf values would increase dramatically, by about +100 epsilon units every 100Ma. In the Ca-, Fe-rich sediments, one sample contains carbonate that preserves the typical rare-earth element features of seawater precipitates. The initial Nd isotopic composition of this sample (εNd (t=3.23Ga)= +1.7) is within the range of previous estimates for Archean anoxic seawater.

Geochemistry of Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Aravalli craton, NW India: Implications for provenance, paleoweathering and supercontinent reconstruction

Basement complex of the Aravalli craton (NW India) known as the Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC) is classified into two domains viz. Archean BGC-I and Proterozoic BGC-II. We present first comprehensive geochemical study of the Archean metasedimentary rocks occurring within the BGC-I. These rocks occur associated with intrusive amphibolites in a linear belt within the basement gneisses. The association is only concentrated on the western margin of the BGC-I. The samples are highly mature (MSm) to very immature (MSi), along with highly variable geochemistry. Their major (SiO2/Al2O3, Na2O/K2O and Al2O3/TiO2) and trace (Th/Sc, Cr/Th, Th/Co, La/Sc, Zr/Sc) element ratios, and rare earth element (REE) patterns are consistent with derivation of detritus from the basement gneisses and its mafic enclaves, with major contribution from the former. Variable mixing between the two end members and closed system recycling (cannibalism) resulted in the compositional heterogeneity. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) of the samples indicate low to moderate weathering of the source terrain in a sub-tropical environment. In A-CN-K ternary diagram, some samples deceptively appear to have undergone post-depositional K-metasomatism. Nevertheless, their petrography and geochemistry (low K2O and Rb) preclude the post-depositional alteration. We propose non-preferential leaching of elements during cannibalism as the cause of the deceptive K-metasomatism as well as enigmatic low CIA values of some highly mature samples. The Archean metasedimentary rocks were deposited on stable basement gneisses, making the BGC-I a plausible participant in the Archean Ur supercontinent.

Early Proterozoic postcollisional granitoids of the Biryusa block of the Siberian craton

Comprehensive geochemical and geochronological studies were carried out for two-mica granites of the Biryusa block of the Siberian craton basement. U-Pb zircon dating of the granites yielded an age of 1874 ± 14 Ma. The rocks of the Biryusa massif correspond in chemical composition to normally alkaline and moderately alkaline high-alumina leucogranites. By mineral and petrogeochemical compositions, they are assigned to S-type granites. The low CaO/Na2O ratios (<0.3), K2O - 5 wt.%, CaO < 1 wt.%, and high Rb/Ba (0.7-1.9) and Rb/Sr (3.9-6.8) ratios indicate that the two-mica granites resulted from the melting of a metapelitic source (possibly, the Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Biryusa block, similar to the granites in £Nd(t) value) in the absence of an additional fluid phase. The granite formation proceeded at 740-800 °C (zircon saturation temperature). The age of the S-type two-mica granites agrees with the estimated ages of I- and A-type granitoids present in the Biryusa block. Altogether, these granitoids form a magmatic belt stretching along the zone of junction of the Biryusa block with the Paleoproterozoic Urik-Iya terrane and Tunguska superterrane. The granitoids are high-temperature rocks, which evidences that they formed within a high-temperature collision structure. It is admitted that the intrusion of granitoids took place within the thickened crust in collision setting at the stage of postcollisional extension in the Paleoproterozoic. This geodynamic setting was the result of the unification of the Neoarchean Biryusa continental block, Paleoproterozoic Urik-Iya terrane, and Archean Tunguska superterrane into the Siberian craton.

Magnetotelluric investigations of the lithosphere beneath the central Rae craton, mainland Nunavut, Canada

AbstractNew magnetotelluric soundings at 64 locations throughout the central Rae craton on mainland Nunavut constrain 2‐D resistivity models of the crust and lithospheric mantle beneath three regional transects. Responses determined from colocated broadband and long‐period magnetotelluric recording instruments enabled resistivity imaging to depths of &gt; 300 km. Strike analysis and distortion decomposition on all data reveal a regional trend of 45–53°, but locally the geoelectric strike angle varies laterally and with depth. The 2‐D models reveal a resistive upper crust to depths of 15–35 km that is underlain by a conductive layer that appears to be discontinuous at or near major mapped geological boundaries. Surface projections of the conductive layer coincide with areas of high grade, Archean metasedimentary rocks. Tectonic burial of these rocks and thickening of the crust occurred during the Paleoproterozoic Arrowsmith (2.3 Ga) and Trans‐Hudson orogenies (1.85 Ga). Overall, the uppermost mantle of the Rae craton shows resistivity values that range from ~3000 Ω m in the northeast (beneath Baffin Island and the Melville Peninsula) to ~10,000 Ω m beneath the central Rae craton, to &gt;50,000 Ω m in the south near the Hearne Domain. Near‐vertical zones of reduced resistivity are identified within the uppermost mantle lithosphere that may be related to areas affected by mantle melt or metasomatism associated with emplacement of Hudsonian granites. A regional decrease in resistivities to values of ~500 Ω m at depths of 180–220 km, increasing to 300 km near the southern margin of the Rae craton, is interpreted as the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary.

Contrasting provenance of Late Archean metasedimentary rocks from the Wutai Complex, North China Craton: detrital zircon U–Pb, whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopic, and geochemical data

Detrital zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock Nd isotopic, and geochemical data of metasedimentary rocks from the Wutai Complex in the Central Zone, North China Craton, have been determined. Compositionally, these rocks are characterized by a narrow variation in SiO2/Al2O3 (2.78–3.96, except sample 2007-1), variable Eu anomalies, spanning a range from significantly negative Eu anomalies to slightly positive anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.58–1.12), and positive eNd (t) values (0.1–1.97). The 18 detrital zircons of one sample yielded age populations of 2.53 Ga, 2.60 Ga, and 2.70–2.85 Ga. Geochemical data reveal intermediate source weathering, varying degrees of K-metasomatism in the majority of these metasedimentary rocks, whereas other secondary disturbances seem to be negligible. Detailed analysis in detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology, whole-rock Nd isotope, and geochemistry shows that these metasedimentary rocks are derived from a mixed provenance. The predominant derivation is from the late Archean granitoids and metamorphic volcanics in the Wutai Complex, and there is also input of older continental remnants, except TTG gneisses, from the Hengshan and Fuping Complexes. The sediments were probably deposited in fore-arc or/and intra-arc basins within an arc system.

Isotopic dating of the migration of a low-grade metamorphic front during orogenesis

The southern margin of the Pilbara Craton in northwestern Australia underwent regional heating, folding, and thrusting as well as extensive fluid flow during collision in the Paleoproterozoic. However, the precise timing of this event is uncertain. Previous geochronologic studies of Archean basement rocks have yielded a wide range of younger radiometric dates (from ca. 2.4 Ga to ca. 2.0 Ga), interpreted to record multiple hydrothermal alteration events. In situ U-Pb geochronology of authigenic monazite and xenotime in very low grade Archean metasedimentary rocks from across the craton suggests that the Pilbara was affected by at least two cryptic thermotectonic events, the first between ca. 2430 Ma and ca. 2400 Ma, and the second between ca. 2215 Ma and ca. 2145 Ma. The older event is restricted to three localities in the west, and its cause is unknown. The younger event affected most of the craton (>100,000 km 2 ), spanning a 70 m.y. period from ca. 2215 Ma nearest the collisional margin in the south, to ca. 2145 Ma toward the craton interior in the north. The widespread geographic and stratigraphic distribution of ca. 2.2 Ga phosphates suggests that fluid flow was pervasive. This event was probably driven by the northward-advancing Ophthalmian fold-and-thrust belt that developed during protracted collision. The associated low-grade metamorphic front migrated over ∼350 km at an average rate of ∼5.0 mm/yr, placing important constraints on the rate and duration of deformation and metamorphism in orogenic settings.

U–Pb geochronology of Archean metasedimentary rocks in the Pontiac and Abitibi subprovinces, Quebec, constraints on timing, provenance and regional tectonics

U–Pb isotopic ages of single detrital zircons have been obtained from metasandstones in the northern part of the Pontiac subprovince and from the Cadillac, Kewagama and Lac Caste Groups within the southern Abitibi subprovince. Youngest detrital zircon ages from these sequences are 2685, 2686, 2687, and 2693 Ma, respectively. The Lac Fournière pluton, which intrudes Pontiac Group metasedimentary rocks, is dated at 2682±1 Ma. A similar age was previously measured from a pluton that cuts the Kewagama Group. These data bracket deposition of greywacke in the Pontiac and Abitibi subprovinces to 2685±3 Ma. In contrast, the youngest zircon found in a volcaniclastic unit interbedded with Timiskaming Group metawacke is 2673±2 Ma, while the age of a pluton that intrudes the Timiskaming is 2672±1 Ma. Thus, the Timiskaming Group is distinctly younger than the other metasedimentary rocks. The normalized probability distributions of detrital zircon ages from the Pontiac and the Abitibi metasedimentary rocks, as well as of dated igneous rocks from the southern Abitibi subprovince, all show that their major zircon populations formed in the age range 2685–2710 Ma. The distributions for the Abitibi metaturbidites and dated igneous rocks are very similar, suggesting that metasedimentary rocks in the Abitibi belt were mostly derived from the surrounding granite–greenstone terrain. The largest peak of the Pontiac distribution is a few million years younger than that from the Abitibi metasedimentary rocks but there is a correlation between major peaks and both groups show similar age ranges for older, pre-Abitibi components (2750–2850 and 3020–3030 Ma). Deposition of the ca. 2685 Ma sediments was virtually syn-deformational. Based on previous field, geochemical and isotopic studies, as well as the detrital zircon age data, the Pontiac Group may represent a foreland basin that may have developed from an accretionary prism. The source of much of the sediment may have been an uplifted extinct continental arc to the north. The arc was mostly eroded into the sediment basin and perhaps tectonically overridden by a southward advancing nappe complex comprised of its back arc basin, now partly preserved in the southern volcanic zone of the Abitibi subprovince. Metaturbidites exposed between metavolcanic assemblages within the greenstone belt may represent overturned unconformities at the structural base of the greenstones. These were brought up by high angle faults, which also localized deposition of non-marine (Timiskaming-type) sediments. It is tentatively suggested that Pontiac-type metasedimentary rocks extend most of the way beneath the Abitibi subprovince, the oldest part of the basin emerging as the Quetico Group in the western Superior province.

Thermo-rheological, shear heating model for leucogranite generation, metamorphism, and deformation during the Proterozoic Trans-Hudson orogeny, Black Hills, South Dakota

This paper evaluates thermotectonic models for metamorphism and leucogranite generation during the Proterozoic Trans-Hudson orogeny, as recorded in rocks exposed in the Black Hills, SD. Intrusion of the Harney Peak Granite and associated pegmatites at ∼1715 Ma occurred at the waning stages of regional deformation and staurolite-grade regional metamorphism. Published Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP) results indicate that Proterozoic sedimentary rocks were thrust over the Archean Wyoming province during the Trans-Hudson collision. Isotopic compositions of the Harney Peak Granite suggest that the exposed Proterozoic and Archean metasedimentary rocks in the Black Hills represent source rocks of the granites. Numerical simulations of the regional metamorphism and Harney Peak Granite generation, assuming crustal thickening by thrusting coupled with erosion, show the following: (1) Doubling of the crust with normal distribution of radioactive elements does not yield sufficiently high temperatures to cause anatexis anywhere in the crust or growth of garnet in the now exposed part of the crust; (2) a 35-km drop-off length for internal heat production can yield sufficient temperature for garnet growth at the current erosion level; it is, however, insufficient to produce staurolite, and melting can occur only in the deepest parts of the crust; (3) temperatures in crust with stable 70 km thickness for ∼40 Ma and 35 km drop-off length for heat production could become sufficient to produce staurolite at the current erosion level, and subsequent rapid denudation of the crust could potentially trigger decompression-melting of lower crustal rocks. Although this model could potentially explain the observed temporal relationship between regional metamorphism and leucogranite generation, it is inconsistent with melting of upper crustal Proterozoic source rocks that is indicated by isotopic compositions of the granites, with lack of evidence for rapid denudation of the Trans-Hudson orogen, and with confinement of the leucogranites to the deformed Proterozoic metapelitic rocks. Production of the Harney Peak Granite and its relationship to regional metamorphism of the country rocks are best explained by shear heating at the interface between the Wyoming province and overthrusted sedimentary rocks. We suggest that with reasonable rheologic properties of metapelites and rates of plate convergence, shear heating sufficiently perturbs locally the geotherms to cause anatexis in a deep shear zone system and growth of staurolite in the overlying crust. Modeling rheology of the lithologically stratified thickened crust, with granitic basement and metapelitic upper plate shows that the currently exposed part of the crust and the granite source region were ductile through much of the orogeny, which explains regional folding of the schists and predicts ductile shear zones in the granite source region. Because of the lithologic stratification, the granitic basement is likely to become significantly weaker during crustal thickening than the upper crust dominated by schists. A weak basement under a folded upper crust is likely to contribute to the observed relatively flat topography of high plateaus over thickened orogens.

Evolution of Archean components in the Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland

The Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogen in West Greenland is largely composed of variably reworked orthogneisses with Archean protolith ages and volumetrically subordinate amounts of Paleoproterozoic metamorphosed mafic and sedimentary rocks and calc-alkaline intrusions. The dominant components of the Archean orthogneisses of the orogen are weakly deformed to foliated granodioritic to tonalitic orthogneisses that include older, polycyclic mafic and intermediate gneisses. The orthogneisses appear to contain field evidence for two Archean migmatization events and are associated with Archean metasedimentary rocks. Samples of orthogneisses collected in a north-south transect across the orogen yield similar magmatic ages between 2.87 and 2.81 Ga, indicating that a fundamental Archean crustal boundary cannot be geochronologically identified within the orogen. Both pre–2.87 Ga gneissic inclusions and the 2.87–2.81 Ga magmatic suite were deformed and metamorphosed between 2.81 and 2.72 Ga, immediately after their emplacement. Tonalitic sheets cut at least one high-strain zone at 2.50 Ga, implying that these gneisses locally had a coherent structural grain prior to onset of the Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogeny. Undeformed 2.79 Ga granites in the northern Nagssugtoqidian foreland provide a northern limit for pervasive Late Archean and Nagssugtoqidian deformation and metamorphism. After the Archean deformation, granites were emplaced into both the Nagssugtoqidian orogen proper and the southern foreland between 2.72 and 2.70 Ga. Despite strong Late Archean and Paleoproterozoic reworking, the Archean basement to the Nagssugtoqidian orogen preserves clear evidence for a cycle of magmatism, sedimentation, deformation, metamorphism, and posttectonic magmatism that is similar to the sequence of events recorded at modern convergent margins (i.e., subduction-related juvenile tonalitic-granodioritic magmatism, collision with attendant deformation and metamorphism, and posttectonic granitoid magmatism). This growth by magmatic accretion may have built upon the older Archean core of southwestern Greenland to form a coherent North Atlantic craton by the end of the Archean, an evolution comparable to that of northeastern Laurentia and Scotland.

Early Archean crust in the northern Wyoming province: Evidence from U–Pb ages of detrital zircons

U–Pb ages of individual detrital and metamorphic zircons from 12 Archean metasedimentary rocks, including quartzites, from the Beartooth, Ruby, and Tobacco Root uplifts of the northern Wyoming province indicate that they were deposited between 2.7 and 3.2 Ga. Younger, metamorphic zircons are found as overgrowths and new grains in some samples, and yield ages between 2.7 and 1.9 Ga. They are, however, much less abundant than detrital grains, which constitute >75% of the 355 grains analyzed. The majority of the detrital grains have ages between 3.2 and 3.4 Ga; none are younger than 2.9 Ga. Grains with 207Pb/ 206Pb ages between 3.4 and 4.0 Ga constituted approximately 15% of all grains with analyses within 10% of concordia, but are concentrated in samples from the eastern Beartooth Mountains. Comparison of the average of the Pb–Pb ages of individual zircons within 10% of concordia with previously published Lu–Hf chondritic model ages for some individual samples suggests that the age distribution recorded by the U–Pb system in these zircons has not been significantly disturbed by pre- or post-depositional Pb-loss. Collectively, these data suggest that the individual metasedimentary rocks did not completely share a common provenance and that a major crust-forming cycle occurred 3.2 to 3.4 Ga. In conjunction with previously published U–Th–Pb whole-rock data, these results suggest that rocks with a relatively high proportion of >3.4 Ga grains may have had crust of comparable age in their provenance.