High-pressure Granulite Research Articles

Titanium Substitutions in Garnet at Magmatic, Granulite Facies, and High-Pressure Granulite Facies Conditions

Titanium Substitutions in Garnet at Magmatic, Granulite Facies, and High-Pressure Granulite Facies Conditions

In Situ Lu–Hf Garnet Dating of Archean Deep Crust Granulites from the Polymetamorphic Grenville Front Tectonic Zone

Abstract Recent advances in geochronological techniques now make it possible to efficiently decipher the timing and duration of geological processes in complex high-grade polymetamorphosed orogenic terranes. This is the case of the Grenville Front Tectonic Zone, which truncates the Superior Craton to the southeast. The zone exposes parautochthonous Archean rocks that underwent mid- to high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism of uncertain age. The metamorphic assemblages have been either interpreted as Archean and associated with the final stages of the Superior Craton assembly or as the result of Mesoproterozoic Grenvillian metamorphism, based on cross-cutting relationships and traditional geochronology methods such as U–Pb zircon and 40Ar–39Ar mica dating. Herein, we revisit the extent of the Grenvillian metamorphic overprint in the parautochthonous domain and provide new age constraints for granulite-facies metamorphic assemblages through in situ garnet dating within migmatitic paragneiss, migmatitic orthogneiss, and mafic granulites, combined with in situ trace element mapping. Six samples, which show bell-shaped and occasionally sharp and oscillatory lutetium growth zoning in garnet, yield garnet Lu–Hf isochrons with identical Archean dates of c. 2.6 Ga. Sparse analyses of the material trend towards Grenvillian ages (c. 1 Ga) in one sample from which garnet shows lutetium zoning consistent with post-growth fluid-assisted disturbance. Overall, our results indicate that the widespread granulite-facies metamorphism within the Grenville Front Tectonic Zone is dominantly late Neoarchean in age, unveiling a rare exposure of Archean lower crust in the southeastern Superior Craton. Our results also point towards a limited Grenvillian metamorphic overprint, though the spatial extent and precise thermal conditions of this metamorphism are still unknown. The results presented herein demonstrate the potential of in situ isotopic geochronology on rock-forming minerals like garnet in polymetamorphic terranes.

Continental subduction and exhumation of the lower crust in a hot orogen: Insights from high-pressure (ultra) high-temperature granulite in the Pouso Alto Nappe, Southeast Brazil

The Pouso Alto Nappe (PAN) is part of the Southern Brasília Orogen (SBO) hinterland and primarily comprises K-feldspar + garnet + kyanite + rutile-bearing paragneiss, interpreted as a residual high-pressure (HP) granulite. The PAN granulite was studied by combining detailed microstructural and petrographic descriptions with monazite petrochronology, thermodynamic modeling, and trace element thermometry. The P–T–t trajectory of the PAN granulite reveals that it experienced HP, and possibly ultrahigh temperature (UHT), metamorphic conditions during the SBO evolution. The prograde subsolidus metamorphic conditions occurred between ca. 670 and 620 Ma. Subsequently, the granulite underwent water-undersaturated partial melting during heating and burial, reaching peak conditions of ≥1000 °C and 18–19 kbar at a maximum age of ca. 620 Ma. The proposed prograde path indicates that the granulite was involved in the continental subduction channel, reaching depths of ca. 70 km, corresponding to the interface between the lower crust and lithospheric mantle in a double-thickened crust. The granulite facies metamorphic conditions would have been attained primarily through the accumulation of heat production elements and mantle heat flow. Decompression and cooling of the melt-weakened rocks commenced after the delamination of denser material of lithosphere. Subsequently, the previously melt-weakened granulite initiates the in-sequence ductile flow, driven by gravitational force exerted by the weight of the orogen. The PAN granulite likely records the transition from a wedge-shaped orogenic belt to an orogenic plateau during continental collision development.

Metamorphic evolution of sillimanite gneiss in the high-pressure terrane of the Western Gneiss Region (Norway)

Abstract. Sillimanite-bearing gneisses in the Romsdal region of the Western Gneiss Region (south Norway) have been investigated to document the presence, formation, composition and petrological evolution of the sillimanite-bearing assemblages. Sillimanite is found in augen gneiss, as nodular gneiss, and in well-foliated sillimanite–mica gneiss. Lenses and layers of eclogite occur within the gneiss units. The sillimanite-bearing gneisses are heterogranular and dominated by quartz, plagioclase (An29–41), K-feldspar and biotite (Mg# = 0.48–0.58; Ti = 0.16–0.36 a.p.f.u.), with variable amounts of white mica (Si = 6.1–6.3). K-feldspar occurs as porphyroclasts in augen gneiss, and garnet constitutes resorbed porphyroblasts. Garnet (Alm46–56Sps24–36Prp10−20Grs4–6; Mg# = 0.22–0.29) shows rimward-decreasing Mg#, together with a smaller grossular decrease and a marked spessartine increase up to Sps36. The foliation is defined by crystal-preferred-orientation micas, elongation of shape-preferred-orientation coarse K-feldspar phenocrysts and a modal banding of phases. Sillimanite occurs as coarse orientation-parallel matrix porphyroblasts, as finer grains and as fibrolitic aggregates. Quartz constitutes coarser elongated grains and monomineralic rods. Pseudosection modelling suggests that the peak-metamorphic mineral assemblage of garnet–sillimanite–feldspar–biotite–quartz–ilmenite–liquid equilibrated at temperatures up to 750 °C and pressures of 0.6 GPa. Subsequent retrogression consumed garnet. Mineral replacement and melt crystallization involved sillimanite, white mica, K-feldspar and quartz. The results document a metamorphic retrogression of the sillimanite gneisses in accordance with the presence of remnants of eclogites and high-pressure granulites in this northwestern part of the Western Gneiss Region.

North Lhasa terrane in the Precambrian originated from Western Australia

Constraining the origin and Paleogeographic positions of ancient continental fragments plays a crucial role in reconstructing and validating supercontinent cycles. The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet is the key to revealing the early formation and evolution of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogen. Although previous origin models of the Lhasa terrane are supported by Phanerozoic evidence, Precambrian geological records have not been comprehensively considered. The U–Pb age and Hf isotope data on detrital zircons from newly discovered Precambrian basement in the North Lhasa terrane define two distinctive age populations of ca. 1170 Ma with εHf(t) values identical to the coeval detrital zircons from Western Australia, and ca. 950 Ma with a similar εHf(t) range to the contemporaneous detrital zircons from South Qiangtang and Tethyan Himalaya terranes. The ca. 1170 Ma detrital zircons were most likely derived from Western Australia, whereas the ca. 950 Ma detrital zircons might have been sourced from the norther Indian margin. Compiled detrital zircon data shows that in the early Neoproterozoic, the affinity between northern Lhasa and Western Australia decreased, while the predilection between northern Lhasa and northern India increased. Combined with ca. 930–870 Ma rift, ca. 870–700 Ma arc igneous rocks and ∼650 Ma high-pressure granulites, we propose that the North Lhasa terrane was a ribbon continent that rifted from Western Australia in the early Neoproterozoic (ca. 930–870 Ma), drifted westward along the northern edge of Rodinia in the middle Neoproterozoic (ca. 870–700 Ma), and was emplaced in the Northern East African Orogen during the late Neoproterozoic (∼650 Ma).

Neoarchean clockwise P-T trajectories with evolution sequence from HP to UHT metamorphism during decompression: Evidence from petrology, mineralogy, and phase equilibria modeling of mafic granulites in the Sittampundi Complex, southern India

The dispute of tectonic environments such as subduction-collision setting versus extension tectonic setting, is a common phenomenon in the Precambrian. Despite the ongoing controversy, the pressure–temperature (P–T) paths recorded by metamorphic rocks are often used as an indicator for distinguishing between subduction-collision and extension tectonic settings in the early Precambrian. It is widely acknowledged that high-pressure (HP) granulites may have formed in crustal-thickening-dominated collision/subduction environment. Conversely, ultra-high temperature (UHT) granulites may have formed in the elevated mantle heat flux environment. The Sittampundi Complex (SC), where HP granulites and UHT granulites coexist, plays a crucial role in unraveling the late-Neoarchean to early-Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of northern South Granulite-facies Terrane (NSGT) of India. In this study, we present new P–T paths from three HP mafic granulites overprinted by UHT granulite facies metamorphism in the SC and provide more data to unravel metamorphic evolution of NSGT. Phase equilibria modeling and traditional thermobarometry calculations illustrated that clockwise metamorphic pressure–temperature (P–T) paths were yielded, passing from 3.3 to 9.3 kbar/631–669 °C (prograde stage) through 11.9–18.5 kbar/828–986 °C (pressure-peak stage), and through 6.6–11.1 kbar/1019–1085 °C (temperature-peak stage) to 4.4–8.1 kbar/845–930 °C (retrograde stage). The HP mafic granulites exhibit clockwise P–T paths with a considerable heating process (ca. 150–180 °C) from the pressure-peak stage (HP-granulite sub-facies) to the temperature-peak stage (UHT-granulite sub-facies). Zircon U-Pb dating yields an age of 2513 ± 29 indicates that the metamorphism took place in the Neoarchean. The uncommon P–T paths from Neoarchean HP granulite in the NSGT suggest that during late Neoarchean, the NSGT had experienced the crustal-thickening dominated collision/subduction (assembly of micro-blocks of Dharwar Craton) and subsequently mantle diapirism process.

Metamorphic evolution and geological significance of Early Palaeozoic high‐pressure granulites from the East Kunlun (NW China)

AbstractGranulites and eclogites are useful for revealing the thermal and tectonic evolution of orogens. Early Palaeozoic granulites and associated eclogites in the East Kunlun Orogenic Belt (EKOB) display contrasting metamorphic age. Such asynchronous granulite–eclogite associations have rarely been reported, and the geological significance of their existence remains to be further explored. In this study, petrological and geochronological techniques were used to investigate two felsic and two mafic granulites collected from the Qingshuiquan area in the eastern section of the EKOB. These rocks record similar P–T paths, which are characterized by a peak stage within suprasolidus and high‐pressure (HP) granulite facies conditions (750–832°C and 10.1–12.0 kbar), followed by an initial decompression and cooling stage to subsolidus conditions (600–748°C and 6.5–8.6 kbar), and then a stage of further retrogression under greenschist facies conditions. The protoliths to these granulites are of volcanic and sedimentary origin and suggested to be a component of the continental basement unit. Metamorphic P–T paths indicate that these rocks experienced peak metamorphism at a depth of ~40 km, then cooling and uplift to a depth of ~25 km, and eventually experienced low‐grade retrogression at shallow crustal levels. Cathodoluminescence images and compositional data demonstrate that the zircons in these rocks are of metamorphic origin and they crystallized at or near peak conditions. SIMS U–Pb dating of representative zircon grains yield concordant metamorphic ages of c. 490–520 Ma, with a peak value of 505 Ma on the probability density curve. These ages are similar to other 480–530 Ma ages typically retrieved from EKOB granulites and associated rocks, and are markedly older than the 400–450 Ma ages retrieved from eclogites and their host rocks. The HP granulites and eclogites of the EKOB do not show overprinting relationships. Such asynchronous characteristics imply that the two rock types formed in distinct tectonic settings and at different stages of a protracted subduction–collision process. The studied granulites are suggested to have formed in the root of a continental arc during a stage of Proto‐Tethys Ocean subduction. The formation of the eclogites could be attributed to subsequent deep continental subduction.

Metamorphism and P-T Evolution of High-Pressure Granulites from the Fuping Complex, North China Craton

Granulite facies rocks provide important keys to evaluating collisional metamorphism in orogenic belts. The mafic granulites of Baoding in the Fuping Complex of the North China Craton occur within the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), a major Paleoproterozoic collisional orogen. Here, we present results from detailed investigations on newly discovered garnet pyroxenite, garnet two-pyroxene granulite, and garnet-bearing-plagioclase amphibolite using petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and zircon U-Pb dating methods. Our results show that the Fuping Complex metamorphic evolution in this study evolved in four stages: prograde (M1), high-pressure granulite facies (M2), granulite facies (M3), and retrograde (M4) stages. The mineral assemblage of the prograde stage (M1) consists of Amp + Pl + Q within garnet cores. The mineral assemblage of high-pressure granulite facies at the peak stage (M2) consists of Gt + Cpx + Pl + Q ± Amp, forming the garnet pyroxenite. The granulite facies stage M3 is characterized by the occurrence of orthopyroxene, with a mineral assemblage of Gt + Cpx + Opx + Amp+ Pl + Q. The early retrograde stage M4-1 includes clinopyroxenes scattered inside amphiboles, following the breakdown of garnet and clinopyroxene. The mineral assemblage of this stage comprises Amp + Pl + Q + Ilm ± Cpx. Later, in the late retrograde stage M4-2, the composition of amphiboles changed to actinolite, and epidote and chlorite started to appear in the matrix. Traditional geothermobarometry yielded P-T conditions of 700~706 °C and 6.0~6.2 kbar for prograde stage M1, 854~920 °C and 13.0~13.8 kbar for high-pressure granulite facies stage M2, 912~939 °C and 8.1~9.9 kbar for M3, 661~784 °C and 3.1~4.4 kbar for M4-1, and 637~638 °C, 1.1~1.3 kbar for M4-2, along a clockwise P-T path with a nearly isothermal decompression (ITD) and slight heating. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating constrains the timing of the high-pressure granulite facies metamorphic event to be between 1.83 and 1.86 Ga. Geochemical features suggest that the protoliths of the high-pressure granulites may have formed in an island arc environment within a convergent margin setting. Together with results from previous studies, our data suggest that the ~1.85 Ga metamorphic age recorded in the Fuping Complex represents a regional metamorphism in the TNCO, associated with the subduction–collision and assembly of the Eastern and Western Blocks of the NCC.

Late Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic tectonothermal and metamorphic evolution recorded in high-pressure granulites: Evidence from the Xuanhua Complex, northern North China Craton

Archean cratons usually underwent reworked processes during the late Paleoproterozoic orogeny, which may result in multiple tectonothermal records preserved in some high-grade metamorphic rocks; thus, these rocks provide a key opportunity on understanding the tectonic styles during different periods. In this study, we report new petrological, mineral chemical and geochronological data of a suite of newly discovered mafic and felsic metamorphic rocks in the Xuanhua Complex from the northern North China Craton (NCC), revealing the complex metamorphic thermal history and the transition of tectonic regime from the late Neoarchean to the late Paleoproterozoic. The mafic granulite preserves the prograde quartz and clinopyroxene inclusions within garnets (M1), and the peak stage (M2) is recorded by garnet, clinopyroxene, hornblende, plagioclase, quartz and ilmenite. The first retrograde (M3a) and final cooling stages (M3b) are defined by the appearance of orthopyroxene, and the amphibolite-facies overprinting, respectively. The felsic granulite records the similar peak mineral assemblage (M2), but has higher volumes of feldspar and quartz than the mafic granulite. The retrograde stage (M3) is represented by amphibolite-facies assemblage (hornblende ± biotite ± clinopyroxene) and fine-grained intergrowth of hornblende + plagioclase around garnet. Pseudosection modeling and thermobarometry results suggest that both high-pressure (HP) mafic and felsic granulites record clockwise P–T paths, including isothermal decompression and cooling from the peak stage (M2: 10.4–10.8 kbar/830–860 °C and 9.6–11.2 kbar/850–930 °C, respectively) to the retrograde stages (M3a and M3b: 7.5–8.0 kbar/840–870 °C and 7.8–8.2 kbar/650–700 °C, respectively; M3: 7.2–8.6 kbar/670–800 °C). Zircon U–Pb dating shows that the magmatic precursors of these rocks were emplaced at c. 2.5–2.47 Ga. The metamorphic zircons reveal two groups metamorphic ages of c. 2.51–2.45 Ga and c. 1.90–1.85 Ga. The c. 2.51–2.45 Ga ages indicate a late Neoarchean tectonothermal event, and the c. 1.95–1.85 Ga ages are interpreted to represent the Paleoproterozoic HP granulite-facies metamorphism overprinting. The highest positive εHf(t) value of 7.64 and 2.8–2.6 Ga Hf model ages of c. 2.5 Ga magmatic zircons indicate that the c. 2.5 Ga mantle-derived mafic magma and the c. 2.5 Ga partial melting of 2.8–2.6 Ga basaltic juvenile crust generated the protoliths of mafic and felsic granulites, respectively, revealing 2.8–2.6 Ga and 2.5 Ga crustal growth and c. 2.5 Ga crustal reworking in the northern NCC.To sum up, we consider that the late Neoarchean magmatism and coeval metamorphism recorded in our samples are probably resulted from the amalgamation of micro-blocks. The Paleoproterozoic clockwise P–T–t paths with near-isothermal decompression segments and low geothermal gradients (c. 21–26 °C/km) of HP mafic and felsic granulites indicate a rapid post-collisional exhumation process after the significantly crustal thickening, and this long-term orogeny along the TNCO (c. 1.95–1.85 Ga; > 100 Myr) is related to the incorporation of the NCC into the Columbia supercontinent.

Symplectite and kelyphite formation during decompression of mafic granulite from Gjelsvikfjella, central Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Abstract. Central Dronning Maud Land (cDML) is part of the late Mesoproterozoic Maud Belt in East Antarctica, which was metamorphosed and deformed during the Ediacaran–Cambrian Gondwana assembly. Here we study high-pressure (HP) mafic rocks in Gjelsvikfjella, cDML, which occur as lenses and pods transposed in highly strained, upper amphibolite-facies gneisses. We present a P–T–t history for the HP rocks based on mineral assemblages, reaction textures and new U–Pb zircon data. Relics that indicate an early HP granulite-facies stage have been identified in anhydrous garnet–clinopyroxene rocks. The peak-pressure assemblage was plagioclase-free and contained garnet, titanite, clinopyroxene and quartz. The HP assemblage has been extensively overprinted by lower-pressure phases and exhibits a variety of symplectite and corona textures that record the post-peak-pressure evolution of the rocks. Decompression and heating in the granulite-facies field resulted in the replacement of titanite by ilmenite–clinopyroxene symplectite, formation of clinopyroxene–plagioclase intergrowths and resorption of garnet by plagioclase–clinopyroxene kelyphite. Formation of late orthopyroxene in symplectites and kelyphites demonstrates that the P–T evolution entered the medium-pressure granulite-facies field. The peak metamorphic stage was followed by retrograde cooling into the amphibolite facies. In situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb dating of zircons indicate Mesoproterozoic protolith ages (1150–1000 Ma) and Ediacaran–Cambrian metamorphic reworking at ca. 568 and ca. 514 Ma. The HP granulites were formed and exhumed during a clockwise P–T evolution related to continental collision during Gondwana amalgamation, followed by post-collisional extension and orogenic collapse.

Petrographic and Geochemical Characteristics of the Djabatoure Massif Metamagmatites from the Pan-African Orogen in Central Togo, West Africa

The Dahomeyide orogen, in Togo and adjoining parts of southeast Ghana and Benin, represents the suture of West Africa Craton (WAC) into northwest Gondwana. The suture zone corresponds to a narrow and lithologically diverse area with high pressure granulite complexes. The Djabatoure massif, located in the central part of Togo, belongs to the suture zone. The aim of this paper is to present the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the Djabatoure massif in order to better understand the geodynamic evolution of the Dahomeyide belt in Togo. The methodology implemented is based on a synthesis of previous works, a petrographic study of 20 thin sections, and a geochemical study through discrimination diagrams of 15 rock samples. Results show that the Djabatoure massif is composed of granulites, pyroxenites, amphibolites, talcschists and gneisses. These rocks were equilibrated under granulite facies conditions and subsequently partially retrogressed to the amphibolite facies. The Djabatoure massif rocks also display tholeiitic affinity, enriched LREE, and negative anomalies in Nb, Zr and Ti; all these characteristics indicate subduction zone magmtism. These features are consistent with protoliths of tholeiites, N-MORB, and volcanic arc basalts affinities. The Djabatoure massif rocks were emplaced in an oceanic environment and likely originated from a metasomatized mantle.

Progressively elevated geothermal gradients for Miocene metamorphism in the Himalayan orogen

The property of regional metamorphism at convergent plate margins is substantially related to the change of geothermal gradients, resulting in different types of crustal reworking through metamorphic dehydration and partial melting. The relationship between crustal metamorphism and thermal evolution of collisional orogens can thus be deciphered by investigating the change of metamorphic thermobaric ratios in both space and time. This is illustrated by a combined study of field observation, petrographic observation, whole-rock and mineral major and trace elements, laser ablation−inductively coupled plasma−mass spectrometry zircon and monazite U-Th-Pb isotopes and trace elements, and phase equilibrium modeling of granitic gneisses from the Cona area, southern Tibet, in the Himalayan orogen. The results reveal variations in spatial level, protolith age, petrological composition, and metamorphic pressure−temperature−time path along an N-S transect across the Higher Himalayas. On this basis, three types of granitic gneisses were identified for the Miocene metamorphism. Type I gneiss was formed at 16.2−14.7 Ma under upper amphibolite facies conditions of 720−735 °C and 0.77−0.82 GPa, Type II gneisses were formed at 18.3−14.3 Ma under granulite facies conditions of 765−795 °C and 0.99−1.06 GPa, and Type III gneisses were formed at 21.8−13.0 Ma under high-pressure granulite facies conditions of 850−875 °C and 1.40−1.45 GPa. These rocks underwent anatectic metamorphism at lower to upper crustal depths from 22 to 13 Ma, and their metamorphic thermobaric ratios increase from 586−803 °C/GPa at 22−18 Ma to 878−967 °C/GPa and finally to 1071 °C/GPa at 15−13 Ma. This increase corresponds to a progressive increase in metamorphic geothermal gradients from 16.1−22.0 °C/km to 24.1−26.5 °C/km and finally to 29.4 °C/km. Therefore, the crustal rocks in the Himalayan orogen experienced the three types of regional metamorphism at the three different geothermal gradients in the Miocene. The progressively elevated geothermal gradients are attributed to continental rifting due to asthenospheric upwelling consequential to thinning of the lithospheric mantle in the collisional orogen. This has important implications for the tectonic evolution of collisional orogens in the post-collisional stage.

Metamorphic evolution and tectonic significance of Neoarchean high-pressure mafic granulites in the Central Limpopo Belt, South Africa

ABSTRACT The Sand River area is in the northeastern part of the Central Zone (CZ) of the Limpopo Belt, and represents a key terrane to reveal early Precambrian tectonic processes in southern Africa. Based on petrology, U–Pb zircon ages, and major and trace element data of high-pressure (HP) mafic granulites from the Sand River area, the tectonic evolution of the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt is re-evaluated here that allows revision of previous interpretations. The protoliths of the HP mafic granulites and amphibolites are sub-alkaline tholeiitic basalts similar to those formed at a mid-ocean ridge and intruded at 2.8 Ga. Based on the distinct mineral assemblages, three metamorphic stages (M1–M3) are recognized in the studied samples: (1) a peak HP granulite facies stage M1 (~1.17–1.32 GPa/~825–870°C), (2) a post-peak near-isothermal decompression stage M2 (~0.70–0.73 GPa/~835–880°C), and (3) a later, independent metamorphic stage M3 (~0.53–0.69 GPa/~793–801°C). M1 and M2 define together a clockwise P–T path. It reveals important information related to the Neoarchean collisional orogeny, and its later overprinted by an independent orogeny with subsequent exhumation and cooling. U–Pb zircon dating of two mafic granulites samples yielded protolith formation of the mafic granulites is prior to ~2.72 Ga, and the two metamorphic age peaks of ~2.72 (M1) and ~2.0 Ga (M3), which present the peak and post-peak cooling stages, respectively. The metamorphic evolution of HP mafic granulites in the Sand River area as reconstructed in this study suggests the Neoarchean collision of the Kaapvaal and Zimbabwe cratons and a discrete Paleoproterozoic orogenic overprint followed by post-orogenic exhumation and cooling.

Metamorphic P-T paths and zircon U-Pb ages of Paleoproterozoic metabasic dykes in the Jiapigou area, South Jilin Province: Implications for the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton

The distribution and tectonic evolution of the Paleoproterozoic orogenic belts in the North China Craton (NCC) remain controversial. Especially, the extent of the Paleoproterozoic magmatic and metamorphic influences on the Archean Longgang Block needs further demonstration. This paper presents detailed petrographic and mineralogical analyses, phase equilibria modeling and zircon dating for three metabasic dyke samples in the Jiapigou area, South Jilin Province, in order to discuss their metamorphic evolution and tectonic implications. Petrographic observation and phase modeling using THERMOCALC suggest that these metabasic dykes have experienced the metamorphism with clockwise P-T paths under low-amphibolite facies, high-amphibolite facies and high-pressure granulite facies. Their peak P-T conditions were constrained to be 0.6–0.9 GPa/580–650 °C (JN1929), ∼0.95 GPa/757 °C (JN1918) and ∼1.15 GPa / 820 °C (JN1932), according to the stability fields of mineral assemblage and isopleths of Ti content in amphibole, anorthite component (XAn) in plagioclase, pyrope content (XPy) and grossular content (XGrs) in garnet. The peak conditions correspond to apparent geothermal gradients of 19–22℃/km, being medium-pressure type. Zircon U-Pb dating shows that the metabasic dykes have a protolith crystallization age of 2199 ± 5 Ma (MSWD = 0.43), and a metamorphic age of 1855 ± 41 Ma (MSWD = 0.21). The protolith ages, metamorphic characteristics and ages of the metabasic dykes in South Jilin can be well compared with those for metabasic dykes in East Hebei and North Liaoning, indicating that the northern part of the Longgang Block was extensively affected by the mid Paleoproterozoic magmatism, and was involved in an orogen to be metamorphically reworked during the late Paleoproterozoic (1.82–1.85 Ga). In addition, this orogeny mainly occurred along the northern margin of the craton, which is different from the ∼1.95 Ga orogeny in the NCC.

Paleoproterozoic high-pressure granulite facies metamorphism in the Yinshan Block, North China craton

The Yinshan Block located in the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) has been regarded as a typical Archean cratonic block, but it is argued whether the block had been affected by Paleoproterozoic tectonic and metamorphic events. This paper reports the late Paleoproterozoic high-pressure (HP) granulites for the first time from the Xiwulanbulang area in the Yinshan Block, and presents a systematic study on their petrography, mineral chemistry, phase equilibria modelling and zircon dating to confirm their metamorphic evolution and tectonic implications. Two representative samples contain the typical HP basic granulite assemblages involving garnet, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, amphibole and quartz, with garnet commonly occurring as coronae around clinopyroxene and plagioclase. Both samples show clockwise P–T paths with their peak conditions of ∼930 °C/∼15kbar (20NM01) and 970–980 °C/∼13.5 kbar (21NM05) respectively, constrained using the maximum Ti contents in amphibole and minimum anorthite (XAn) in the mantle of plagioclase on P–T pseudosections. Zircon dating yields a magmatic age of ∼ 2.3 Ga and metamorphic ages of ∼2.5 Ga and ∼1.8 Ga. The ∼2.3 Ga magmatic age represents the time of protolith gabbro crystallization, which can be comparative to the extension-related bimodal magmatism in the Khondalite Belt. The ∼ 1.8 Ga age was determined from metamorphic zircons that have flat HREE patterns with the presence of garnet, interpreted as the time of the post-peak cooling and uplifting of the HP granulite facies metamorphism. The ∼2.5 Ga is defined from the captured zircon grains by gabbroic intrusions from the country Neoarchean rocks. The HP granulite facies metamorphism registers a geothermal gradient of 19–20 °C/km, indicating a collision-related orogenic event that may have occurred at ∼1.85 Ga along the northern margin of the NCC. Therefore, the Yinshan Block may represent a weak deformation domain in the orogenic belt on the northern margin of the NCC.

Upper plate exhumation during continental collision: An example from the paranapanema paleocontinental active margin, SE Brazil

The Southern Brasília Orogen is the result of Ediacaran continental collision between the active margin of the Paranapanema paleocontinent and the passive margin of the São Francisco paleocontinent. The active margin was deformed into the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe and the associated Embu Domain. This paper presents new U–Pb zircon data and geothermobarometric estimates that allow to reconstruct the metamorphic evolution in these upper plate units. A pre-collisional metamorphism M1 with an age peak in metamorphic rims of zircon grains in the range 680–630 Ma is related to the development of the Socorro-Guaxupé magmatic arc with batholiths dated in a similar time span, 690 - 630 Ma. This metamorphism reached medium pressure granulite facies, now exposed by the tilted uplift and erosion due to the collision. Another peak is detected in metamorphic rims of zircon grains, in the range 630–590 Ma, labeled M2, related to the collision and corresponds to the main metamorphism in the lower plate and accretionary wedge-like nappe stack, underlying the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe. This nappe stack was affected by greenschist facies metamorphism in the autochthonous underlying craton, grading to high pressure granulite facies in the upper nappe, with local occurrences of retroeclogite lenses. In the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe and Embu Domain this main metamorphism (M2) is characterized by three metamorphic zones decreasing in grade with distance from the suture: a granulite facies orthopyroxene bearing zone; a high temperature amphibolite facies zone and a lower amphibolite facies zone. Geothermobarometric results in mineral associations related to M2 show temperatures decreasing from about 770 °C to ∼620 °C and pressures decreasing from about 9 kbar close to the suture to about 5 kbar in the southern and western parts of the studied region. On the upper Paranapanema plate, relative to the Socorro-Guaxupé Nappe and Embu Domain units, at the base of the plate, an older metamorphism (M1) is verified with temperatures between 960 and 890 °C and pressures between 11 and 9 kbar, reequilibrated at approximately 700 °C with a pressure of about 9 kbar (M2, continental collision). For this reason, it can be assumed that the rim of the Paranapanema plate was exhumed during the continental collision, since the temperature and pressure of the metamorphic peak determined during the continental collision are lower than those determined for the pre-collisional magmatic arc metamorphism.

Repeated Caledonian burial and ultrafast cooling and exhumation of high‐pressure granulite facies rocks from the Blåhø Nappe on the island of Fjørtoft, Western Gneiss Region, Norway

AbstractThe allochthonous Blåhø Nappe in the Nordøyane ultra high pressure (UHP) domain, Western Gneiss Region in Norway, acts as a window to examine geological processes occurring in continent–continent collisional zones, but many aspects regarding its tectonometamorphic evolution remain debated and elusive. In this contribution, an integrated study including major‐ and trace‐element zoning in garnet, phase equilibrium modelling and the simulation of cation diffusion in garnet was conducted on two high‐pressure (HP) granulite facies rocks from the Blåhø Nappe on the island of Fjørtoft. The results shed new light on the complex geodynamic processes that act in continent–continent collisional zones and finally shape collisional orogens. Phengite, biotite, amphibole, zoisite‐allanite and low‐Zr rutile enclosed in garnet likely attest to a prograde eclogite facies metamorphism for the studied rocks. Pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions of ~1.5–1.6 GPa and 615–670°C were retrieved for this stage. An extensive re‐equilibration under peak HP granulite facies conditions of ~1.5 GPa and 925 ± 50°C followed. Subsequently, the rocks were cooled and reburied to eclogite facies conditions of ~1.8–1.9 GPa and 805–825°C. This was followed by a final stage of decompression and cooling to amphibolite facies conditions of ~650–780°C and 0.5–1.0 GPa. Cooling and exhumation rates of >400°C/Ma and >75 km/Ma, respectively, indicating an ultrafast temperature and pressure decrease are estimated for this stage from simulations of cation diffusion in garnet. The anticlockwise P–T path obtained here is relatively complete and compatible with a repeated burial history during the Caledonian orogeny but not with UHP conditions proposed for the Blåhø Nappe. Our model proposes that the rocks later forming the Blåhø Nappe were buried to lower crustal depths of approximately 55 km equating to a geothermal gradient of ~13°C/km during the early Caledonian orogeny. Subsequent heating of these rocks to HP granulite facies conditions was likely driven by slab break‐off and hot mantle upwelling. Baltica underthrusting during the Scandian continent–continent collision cooled and transported the Blåhø Nappe to greater depths. The obtained cooling and exhumation rates indicate ultrafast exhumation, presumably in an exhumation channel.

Juxtaposition of different-grade metamorphic rocks in an ancient orogen: Evidence from the Chengde Complex of the Trans-North China Orogen, North China Craton

Juxtaposition of different-grade metamorphic slices is a typical feature of Phanerozoic orogens but is relatively scarce in Precambrian orogens. Here, we focus on the Chengde Complex at the northern segment of the late Paleoproterozoic Trans-North China Orogen, the North China Craton as a case, to explore how different-grade orogeny-related metamorphism was juxtaposed in Precambrian orogens. The Trans-North China Orogen is a typical Precambrian collisional orogen and records abundant information about the Paleoproterozoic orogeny. High-pressure (HP) mafic granulite and two types of amphibolite samples were collected from the Chengde Complex, and we conducted a combined study involving litho-structural assemblage investigation, metamorphic petrology, and geochronology to decipher their metamorphic P-T−t history. HP mafic granulite and amphibolite occur as enclaves or dikes within felsic gneisses. HP mafic granulite records clockwise P-T paths with isothermal decompression (ITD) segments, and the peak metamorphic P-T conditions are 13.0−14.9 kbar/790−830 °C. Peak metamorphic P-T conditions retrieved from garnet-bearing amphibolite are 8.3 kbar/675 °C, whereas peak metamorphic P-T conditions retrieved from garnet-free amphibolite are 4.0−5.5 kbar/500−510 °C. Zircon U-Pb dating of HP granulite and amphibolite yield different prograde (1914−1871 Ma), peak (1869−1816 Ma), and retrograde (ca. 1830 Ma) metamorphic ages, and all of these data indicate that these metamorphic rocks were diachronously transferred to different depths in the subduction channel and subsequently exhumed at shallower crustal levels. Therefore, we conclude that the Chengde Complex is composed of imbricate rocks with different metamorphic grades and ages, and such an unordered juxtaposition of diverse metamorphism could also be a typical feature of Precambrian orogens.

Clockwise P−T−t paths of late Neoarchean high-pressure pelitic granulites from the Qingyuan terrane, eastern North China Craton

Precambrian high-pressure (HP) granulites provide record for the geodynamic process of ancient continental nuclei. Here we report the newly discovered late Neoarchean HP pelitic granulites in the Qingyuan terrane, eastern North China Craton (NCC). The Neoarchean basement of the Qingyuan terrane comprises meta-supracrustal rocks, tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) gneisses, and a small amount of charnockites. The HP pelitic granulites were recognized from the meta-supracrustal rocks as fragments within the TTG gneisses. Detailed petrographic observations, mineral chemistry and phase equilibrium modelling results show that the prograde stage (M1) of HP pelitic granulites can be presented by the inclusions of garnet porphyroblasts including kyanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite and ilmenite. The prograde P−T conditions were constructed via melt-reintegration approach and Ti-in-quartz thermometer (710–745 °C at 8–9.3 kbar). The peak stage (M2) can be represented by the core of garnet porphyroblasts and matrix minerals containing kyanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite, K-feldspar and rutile with the P−T conditions of 12.2–13.6 kbar and 800–825 °C retrieved by Ti-in-quartz thermometer, garnet-Al2SiO5-plagioclase-quartz (GASP) barometer, garnet barometer and phase equilibria modelling. The peak metamorphic P−T conditions suggest that surficial sediments have been brought to a depth over 40 km. The post-peak stage (M3) is presented by the inner rim of garnet porphyroblasts (recorded in QY01) or the core of garnet (recorded in QY02) with some matrix minerals containing sillimanite, plagioclase, quartz, biotite, K-feldspar and ilmenite, indicating the P−T conditions of 7.8–9.0 kbar and 810 °C combined with Ti-in-quartz thermometer, GASP barometer, garnet barometer and phase equilibria modelling. The final retrograde stage (M4) is presented by the minor matrix sillimanite, plagioclase, quartz, K-feldspar, ilmenite and biotite with the absence of melt and the P−T conditions of 668–733 °C at 5–8 kbar using Ti-in-biotite thermometer. Monazite LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating reveals the peak or near peak metamorphic ages ∼2.49 Ga of the HP pelitic granulites. Therefore, the HP pelitic granulites of the Qingyuan terrane record the clockwise P−T−t paths with sequential isothermal decompression (ITD) and isobaric cooling (IBC) segments, suggesting a subduction−collision environment at the late Neoarchean (∼2.49 Ga) in the eastern NCC.

Tracking the multi-stage metamorphism and exhumation history of felsic gneisses in the South Altyn ultra-high pressure metamorphic belt, Western China

Felsic gneisses are usually the dominant rock types in most high-pressure (HP) and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terranes, although their peak metamorphic conditions and complete P–T paths are rarely known. This lack of knowledge is attributed to the high variance of mineral assemblages at HP/UHP conditions of the felsic gneisses, or to the effects of retrograde-related overprinting. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish whether felsic gneisses underwent HP/UHP metamorphism. In this paper, we focus on the felsic gneiss that has been previously documented as having formed under HP granulite-facies metamorphism with peak P–T of > 1.15 GPa and > 860 °C from the Danshuiquan locality in the South Altyn HP–UHP belt. The Danshuiquan felsic gneiss is strongly deformed and is spatially associated with weakly deformed garnet-rich felsic gneiss. On the basis of detailed microstructure observations on mineral assemblages and phase equilibria modelling, three stages of metamorphic evolution for the weakly deformed garnet-rich felsic gneiss are identified. The first stage is represented by garnet cores, revealing a prograde P–T path from 1.5 GPa/750 °C to 2.1 GPa/900 °C. The second stage is characterized by garnet mantles with multiphase inclusions, defining HP eclogite-facies metamorphic conditions of 2.2–2.6 GPa/950–1100 °C. The third stage is represented by the composition of garnet rims, biotite, and plagioclase, suggesting an HP granulite to amphibolite facies decompression cooling process to 1.1–1.3 GPa/710–770 °C. In contrast, the strongly deformed felsic gneiss just records a deformation-related decompression process from 1.1 to 1.2 GPa/750–760 °C to 0.87–0.98 GPa/760–770 °C, and finally to 0.83 GPa/740 °C. Zircon U–Pb dating yields c. 920 Ma protolith ages, c. 500 Ma eclogite-facies ages, and c. 480 Ma granulite to amphibolite facies retrograde ages for the Danshuiquan felsic gneisses. Our results show that the Danshuiquan felsic gneisses underwent a similar metamorphic evolution process to that of Yinggelisayi HP–UHP rocks in the eastern segment of the South Altyn Tagh. Most HP mineralogical records tend to be eliminated by the strong deformation at crustal depths (∼30 km), meaning that the peak metamorphic conditions of the studied felsic rocks in UHP metamorphic terranes are previously underestimated.