Changes In Tectonic Processes Research Articles

Zircon U-Pb Age and Hf-O Isotope Evidence of the Taihua Complex on the Southern Margin of the North China Craton: Implications for Its Magmatic Process During the Early Paleoproterozoic

The Xiaoqinling is the largest terrane of the Taihua Complex and records Paleoproterozoic silicic magmatism, which is one of the most potential areas for understanding secular changes in tectonic processes during the Tectono-Magmatic Lull (TML). In this study, we use zircon U–Pb dating, Lu–Hf and O isotopic analysis to constrain the age, provenance, and magmatic processes of the protoliths for the Paleoproterozoic granitic gneiss, tonalitic gneisses, and migmatitized tonalitic gneiss from the Xiaoqinling area. The isotopic composition of zircon provides a key proxy for querying the crustal record. Integration of our new U–Pb and Hf–O isotope data with available published data from other regions of the North China Craton (NCC), allows us to better assess the secular changes of the North China Craton during the magmatic lull at ∼2.3 Ga. This study shows that the protolith of the tonalitic gneisses in the study area have crust-like Hf–O isotopic compositions with slightly negative to positive εHf(t) (−3.0− +2.1) and low to moderately elevated δ18O values (2.71–7.87‰), indicating a mixed origin of continental crust assimilated by mantle-derived magmas.

Neotethyan Subduction Ignited the Iran Arc and Backarc Differently

AbstractMost arcs show systematic temporal and spatial variations in magmatism with clear shifts in igneous rock compositions between those of the magmatic front (MF) and those in the backarc (BA). It is unclear if similar magmatic polarity is seen for extensional continental arcs. Herein, we use geochemical and isotopic characteristics coupled with zircon U‐Pb geochronology to identify the different magmatic style of the Iran convergent margin, an extensional system that evolved over 100 Myr. Our new and compiled U‐Pb ages indicate that major magmatic episodes for the NE Iran BA occurred at 110–80, 75–50, 50–35, 35–20, and 15–10 Ma. In contrast to NE Iran BA magmatic episodes, compiled data from MF display two main magmatic episodes at 95–75 and 55–5 Ma, indicating more continuous magmatism for the MF than for the BA. We show that Paleogene Iran serves as a useful example of a continental arc under extension. Our data also suggest that there is not a clear relationship between the subduction velocity of Neotethyan Ocean beneath Iran and magmatic activity in Iran. Our results imply that the isotopic compositions of Iran BA igneous rocks do not directly correspond to the changes in tectonic processes or geodynamics, but other parameters such as the composition of lithosphere and melt source(s) should be considered. In addition, changes in subduction zone dynamics and contractional versus extensional tectonic regimes influenced the composition of MF and BA magmatic rocks. These controls diminished the geochemical and isotopic variations between the magmatic front and backarc.

Sulfur isotopes in diamonds reveal differences in continent construction.

Neoproterozoic West African diamonds contain sulfide inclusions with mass-independently fractionated (MIF) sulfur isotopes that trace Archean surficial signatures into the mantle. Two episodes of subduction are recorded in these West African sulfide inclusions: thickening of the continental lithosphere through horizontal processes around 3 billion years ago and reworking and diamond growth around 650 million years ago. We find that the sulfur isotope record in worldwide diamond inclusions is consistent with changes in tectonic processes that formed the continental lithosphere in the Archean. Slave craton diamonds that formed 3.5 billion years ago do not contain any MIF sulfur. Younger diamonds from the Kaapvaal, Zimbabwe, and West African cratons do contain MIF sulfur, which suggests craton construction by advective thickening of mantle lithosphere through conventional subduction-style horizontal tectonics.

The Geology and Metallogeny of Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposits: Variations through Geologic Time and with Tectonic Setting

Analysis of metallogenic data, including grade and tonnage, host-rock succession, ore and alteration mineralogy, and lead and sulfur isotope data, indicates significant secular changes in the character of volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits, which appear to be related to changes in tectonic processes, tectonic cycles, and changes in the composition of the hydrosphere and atmosphere. The distribution of these deposits, whether measured in number of deposits, tons of ore, or tons of metal, is episodic, with major peaks at 2740 to 2690, 1910 to 1840, 510 to 460, and 390 to 355 Ma. These peaks correspond to the assembly of major continental land masses, including Kenorland, Nuna, Gondwana, and Pangea, respectively. Periods when fewer VHMS deposits formed correspond to periods of supercontinent and/or supercraton stability. The VHMS deposits do not form during supercontinent and/or supercraton breakup; rather, these intervals are associated with deposition of clastic-dominated sediment-hosted zinc-lead deposits. The main exception to these generalizations is the amalgamation of Rodinia, which was not accompanied by significant VHMS formation. Rodinian amalgamation may have been dominated by advancing accretionary orogenesis, whereby the overriding plate did not go into extension. In this case, slab rollback and the associated extension to form back-arc basins would not have been common, a setting typically conducive to the formation and preservation of VHMS deposits. Large ranges in source 238U/204Pb (μ) that characterized VHMS deposits in the Archean and Proterozoic indicate early (Hadean to Paleoarchean) differentiation of the Earth. A progressive decrease in μ variability may indicate homogenization with time of these differentiated sources. Secular increases in the amount of lead and decreases in 100Zn/(Zn+Pb) relate to an increase in felsic rock-dominated successions as hosts to deposits and to an apparent absolute increase in the abundance of lead in the crust with time. The increase in the abundance of barite and other sulfate minerals in VHMS deposits, from virtually absent in the Mesoarchean and Neoarchean to relatively common in the Phanerozoic, relates to the progressive oxidation of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The total sulfur content of the oceans also increased, resulting in the enhanced importance of seawater sulfur in VHMS ore fluids with time. In Archean to Paleoproterozoic deposits, the bulk of the sulfur was derived by leaching rocks underlying the deposits, with little contribution from seawater, resulting in uniform, near-zero per mil values of δ34Ssulfide. In contrast, the more variable δ34Ssulfide values of younger deposits reflect the increasing importance of seawater sulfur in the hydrothermal systems. Unlike Mesoarchean and Neoarchean deposits, Paleoarchean deposits contain abundant barite. This sulfate is inferred to have been derived from photolytic decomposition of atmospheric SO2 and does not reflect overall oxidized oceans. Archean and Proterozoic seawater was significantly more saline than that in the Phanerozoic, particularly upper Phanerozoic seawater. The VHMS ore fluids reflect this, being on average more saline in Archean and Proterozoic deposits. This variability introduces uncertainty into genetic models advocating brine pools or magmatic- hydrothermal contributions based on high-salinity ore fluids.

Tectonics and Climate of the Southern Central Andes

The history of the southern central Andes, including the world's second largest plateau and adjacent intermontane basins and ranges of the Eastern Cordillera and the northern Sierras Pampeanas of Argentina and Bolivia, impressively documents the effects of tectonics and topography on atmospheric circulation patterns, the development of orographic barriers, and their influence on erosion and landscape evolution at various timescales. Protracted aridity in the orogen interior has facilitated the creation and maintenance of the Puna-Altiplano plateau. Contraction and range uplift, filling of basins, and possibly wholesale uplift of the plateau increased gravitational stresses in the orogen interior, which caused the eastward migration of deformation into the foreland and successive aridification. The uplift of the Andean orogen has also had a far-reaching influence on atmospheric and moisture-transport patterns in South America. This is documented by the onset of humid climate conditions on the eastern side of the Andes in late Miocene time, which was coupled with the establishment of dramatic precipitation gradients perpendicular to the orogen, and changes in tectonic processes in the Andean orogenic wedge.

Controls on the heterogeneous distribution of mineral deposits through time

Abstract Mineral deposits exhibit heterogeneous distributions, with each major deposit type showing distinctive, commonly unique, temporal patterns. These reflect a complex interplay between formational and preservational forces that, in turn, largely reflect changes in tectonic processes and environmental conditions in an evolving Earth. The major drivers were the supercontinent cycle and evolution from plume-dominated to modern-style plate tectonics in a cooling Earth. Consequent decrease in the growth rate of continental crust, and change from thick, buoyant sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) in the Precambrian to thinner, negatively buoyant SCLM in the Phanerozoic, led to progressive decoupling of formational and preservational processes through time. This affected the temporal patterns of deposit types including orogenic gold, porphyry and epithermal deposits, volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS), palaeoplacer Au, iron oxide, copper gold (IOCG), platinum group elements (PGE), diamond and probably massive sulphide SEDEX deposits. Sedimentary mineral deposits mined for redox-sensitive metals show highly anomalous temporal patterns in which specific deposit types are restricted to particular times in Earth history. In particular, palaeoplacer uranium, banded iron formation (BIF) and BIF-associated manganese carbonates that formed in the early Precambrian do not reappear in younger basins. The most obvious driver is progressive oxidation of the atmosphere, with consequent long-term changes in the hydrosphere and biosphere, the latter influencing the temporal distribution and peak development of deposits such as Mississippi Valley types (MVT), hosted in biogenic sedimentary rocks.

Geochemistry and geochronology of the Rathjen Gneiss: Implications for the early tectonic evolution of the Delamerian Orogen

The Rathjen Gneiss is the oldest and structurally most complex of the granitic intrusives in the southern Adelaide Fold‐Thrust Belt and therefore provides an important constraint on the timing of the Delamerian Orogen. Zircons in the Rathjen Gneiss show a complex growth history, reflecting inheritance, magmatic crystallisation and metamorphism. Both single zircon evaporation (‘Kober’ technique) and SHRIMP analysis yield best estimates of igneous crystallisation of 514 ± 5 Ma, substantially older than other known felsic intrusive ages in the southern Adelaide Fold‐Thrust Belt. This age places an older limit on the start of the Delamerian metamorphism and is compatible with known stratigraphic constraints suggesting the Early Cambrian Kanmantoo Group was deposited, buried and heated in less than 20 million years. High‐U overgrowths on zircons were formed during subsequent metamorphism and yield a 206Pb/238U age of 503 ± 7 Ma. The Delamerian Orogeny lasted no more than 35 million years. The emplacement of the Rathjen Gneiss as a pre‐ or early syntectonic granite is emphasised by its geochemical characteristics, which show affiliations with within‐plate or anorogenic granites. In contrast, younger syntectonic granites in the southern Adelaide Fold‐Thrust Belt have geochemical characteristics more typical of granites in convergent orogens. The Early Ordovician post‐tectonic granites then mark a return to anorogenic compositions. The sensitivity of granite chemistry to changes in tectonic processes is remarkable and clearly reflects changes in the contribution of crust and mantle sources.

Present status and future avenues of source region discrimination and characterization using fission track analysis

Amongst the various dating methods available for use in sediment provenance studies there exists a wide range (∼60–900°C) of temperature stability fields that can be used to record different geological processes. The adoption of a particular geochronological method for use in the study of provenance requires selecting a technique and mineral phase that have a thermal stability range suited to the type of provenance information required. This paper describes the unique provenance applications of the low temperature (∼60–320°C) fission track (FT) method. Apatite fission track data can monitor changes in the thermal regime of the upper 3–5 km of crust and are therefore particularly sensitive to cycles of burial, tectonic and erosive denudation. Provenance applications include dating source, estimating source denudation rates, detecting changes in tectonic processes, constraining models of thermal evolution at the depositional site and reconstructing eroded sections. Future detrital apatite FT applications should concentrate on improving resolution of the temporal relationships between source evolution and sedimentation in adjacent basins. A small study from the Hebrides Basin, western Scotland is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of adopting such an approach. The range of applications for detrital zircon FT data is more restricted due primarily to difficulties interpreting a detrital zircon age because of possible metamorphic resetting. Common applications that avoid these uncertainties include dating source, determination of source denudation rates and constraining the age of biostratigraphically barren sediments. In the future, interpretative difficulties may be overcome by adopting a dual approach to zircon dating using both U–Pb and FT methods.