Hypabyssal Rocks Research Articles

The characteristics of zircon as the evidence for post-magmatic remobilization of REE and HFSE in the northern Motzfeldt alkaline igneous complex, southern Greenland

The Motzfeldt intrusions in the Gardar Province, southern Greenland, split into syenitic plutonic and hypabyssal rocks, in which the latter include ring dykes and sheet intrusions. Sheet intrusions, considered as the source for rare earth elements (REE) and high field strength elements (HFSE), comprise sheets of peralkaline microsyenite (SPM), syenitic pegmatite (SP), and peralkaline microsyenite (PM). SP exhibits extremely high concentrations of REE and HFSE, which are positively correlated with increasing alkalinity from early towards late intrusion, caused by magmatic processes. In contrast, some of the SPM and PM are also significantly enriched in REE and HFSE, caused by post-magmatic fluids. The REE-and HFSE-rich phases in SP consist mainly of zircon and allanite with smaller amounts of pyrochlore in pseudomorph from the inferred eudialyte, whereas some of the PM and SPM consist of pyrochlore, REE-carbonate, and zircon in the matrix. The zircon grains in the Motzfeldt So Formation (MSF) syenite occur in interstitial spaces, exhibiting an association with magnetite and a bipyramidal form in texture. They are characterized by a highly fractured and embayed rim. Zircons from PM and SP are clearly enriched in Fe, Al, Ca, Na, Y, P, Hf, Y, P, Nb, Ta, and REE, and are depleted in Zr and Si in comparison with magmatic zircon. They also show a clear trend of higher LREE/HREE and Eu/Eu* ratios, and lower Ce/Ce* ratios, which define them as typical hydrothermal zircons. In contrast, zircons from the MSF syenite show a relatively lower LREE/HREE ratio and Eu and Ce anomalies of a similar magnitude compared with those from SP and PM. The occurrence and mineral composition of the zircon suggest that post-magmatic fluids have played an important role in the remobilization of REE and HFSE as well as the primary concentration of REE and HFSE, caused by magmatic processes.

Paleomagnetism and magnetic fabrics of Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event, Colombia: tectonic implications

Mio-Pliocene hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event in the Amaga basin (NW Andes-Colombia), contain a deformational record of the activity of the Cauca-Romeral fault system, and the interaction of terranes within the Choco and northern Andean blocks. Previous paleomagnetic studies interpreted coherent counterclockwise rotations and noncoherent modes of rotation about horizontal axes for the Combia intrusives. However, rotations were determined from in-situ paleomagnetic directions and the existing data set is small. In order to better understand the deformational features of these rocks, we collected new paleomagnetic, structural, petrographic and magnetic fabric data from well exposed hypabyssal rocks of the Combia event. The magnetizations of these rocks are controlled by a low-coercivity ferromagnetic phase. Samples respond well to alternatingfield demagnetization isolating a magnetization component of moderate coercivity. These rocks do not have ductile deformation features. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and morphotectonic analysis indicate that rotation about horizontal axes is consistently to the south-east, suggesting the need to apply a structural correction to the paleomagnetic data. The relationships between magnetic foliations and host-rock bedding planes indicate tectonic activity initiated before ~10 Ma. We present a mean paleomagnetic direction (declination D = 342.8°, inclination I = 12.1°, 95% confidence interval α95 = 12.5°, precision parameter k = 8.6, number of specimens n = 18) that incorporates structural corrections. The dispersion S = 27° of site means cannot be explained by secular variation alone, but it indicates a counterclockwise rotation of 14.8° ± 12.7° relative to stable South America. Paleomagnetic data within a block bounded by the Sabanalarga and Cascajosa faults forms a more coherent data set (D = 336.5°, I = 17.4°, α95 = 11.7°, k = 12.5, n = 14), which differs from sites west of the Sabanalarga fault and shows a rotation about a vertical axis of 20.2° ± 10.7°. Deformation in the Amaga basin may be tentatively explained by the obduction of the Canas Gordas terrane over the northwestern margin of the northern Andean block. However, it can also be related to the local effects of the Cauca-Romeral fault system.

Geochemistry, petrogenesis and tectonic setting of middle Eocene hypabyssal rocks of the Torud–Ahmad Abad magmatic belt: An implication for evolution of the northern branch of Neo-Tethys Ocean in Iran

The Torud–Ahmad Abad magmatic belt is located in the south-southeast of Shahrood (East of Semnan Province, NE Iran) and lies in the northern part of the Central Iran Structural Zone (CISZ), where a thick sequence of Paleocene to middle Eocene volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks cropped out. This sequence was intruded by numerous dikes, hypabyssal igneous domes and one small gabbrodioritic intrusion, with compositions ranging from trachybasaltic andesite, trachyandesite, dacite, trachyte, gabbro, diorite and syenite. Various enclaves (cogentic and noncogenetic) with different composition, size and shape have been found in these domes and dikes. These enclaves are evidence of magma mixing and crustal contamination. Geochemically, the studied rocks exhibit a calc-alkaline to high potassium calc-alkaline affinity, and are enriched in LREE and LILE and depleted in HREE and HSFE. Other geochemical characteristics, such as a silica content varying between 59–63wt% and 51–59wt%, a Na2O content >3wt%, Al2O3 content>16wt%, Yb<1.8ppm, and Y<18ppm, make it possible to classify these rocks as high silica adakite in the Ahmad Abad region and low silica adakite in the Sahl-Razzeh region or at least, adakitic like rocks. Also, depletion of Nb and Ti, and high enrichment in Rb, Ba, K and Th, imply crustal contamination of the mentioned adakitic domes. The petrographical and geochemical evidence show that the magma forming of the high silica adakites has been originated from partial melting of the subducted oceanic slab of Neo-Tethys (Sabzevar–Darouneh branch) in amphibolite to eclogite facies and the low silica adakites formed by partial melting of the metasomatized or modified mantle wedge, above the subduction zone. Gabbroic to syenitic rocks are the products of fractional crystallization of basic magma which originated from a nearly non-modified mantle wedge above the subducted oceanic slab. U-Pb dating of the dacitic and andesitic rocks belong to hypabyssal rocks yielded age of 41.4±0.3Ma, and 35.5±0.2Ma respectively and consistent to Middle to Late Eocene.

The age of young intrusions of Tsana Complex (Greater Caucasus) and isotope-geochemical evidence for their origin from hybrid magmas

This paper presents isotope-geochronological and petrological study of granitoids of the potentially ore-bearing (Au–As–Sb–Sn–Mo) Early Pliocene Tsana Complex, which are confined to the Main Caucasus fault zone (upthrow fault) in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The Tsurungal and Karobi groups of magmatic bodies are distinguished based on spatial criterion. The Tsurungal group includes three small granite—granodiorite massifs (Tsurungal, Chorokhi, and Toteldash) and numerous acid and intermediate dikes in the upper reaches of the Tskhenistsqali River (Kvemo Svaneti, Georgia). The Karobi group comprises three subvolcanic rhyodacite bodies located in the upper reaches of the Chashuri River (Zemo Racha, Georgia) and numerous N–S-trending trachyandesite dikes near the axial zone of the Main Caucasus Range. The K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotope dating shows that the granitoid massifs and dike bodies of the Tsana Complex were formed in two different-age pulses of the Pliocene magmatism: phase I at 4.80 ± 0.15 and phase II at 4.15 ± 0.10 Ma. All hypabyssal rocks of the Karobi group, unlike those of the Tsurungal Group, were formed during the first pulse. Petrographic studies in combination with geochemical data indicate that most of the granitoids of the Tsana Complex are hybrid rocks (I-type post-collisional granites) and were derived through mixing of deep-seated mantle magmas with acid melts obtained by the upper crustal anatectic melting in the Main Caucasus fault zone. The granitoids of the Tsurungal Group define basic to acid evolution (diorite–granodiorite–granite–two-mica granite) possibly caused by both crystallization differentiation and increasing role of crustal contamination in the petrogenesis of the parental magmas of these rocks. This conclusion is also confirmed by the differences in the Sr isotope composition between granitoids of the early (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7053) and late (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7071) phases of the Tsana Complex. Main trends in spatiotemporal migration of magmatic activity in the central part of the Greater Caucasus in the Pliocene–Quaternary time were established using obtained and earlier published isotope-geochronological data.

Geochemistry of granitoids from the basement of the Kuril island arc system

This paper reports the characteristics of granitoids from the Pacific slope of the Kuril island arc system, which were discovered by the authors during geological and geophysical operations in three cruises of the R/V Akademik M. Lavrent’ev. The major and trace element compositions of these rocks were determined, their role in the formation of the submarine Vityaz Ridge was evaluated, and they were compared with granitoids from the Brouton group of submarine volcanoes and xenoliths from Simushir Island and the Sea of Okhotsk. Granitoids from various structures of the basement of the Kuril island arc system are hypabyssal rocks derived from andesite magmas. Their common features are related to the formation on the continental crust under convergent geodynamic conditions involving compression due to the movement and subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the Asian continent. The problem of the basement of the Kuril island arc system was discussed, the composition and age of its rocks were determined, and the history of the geologic development of the Pacific slope of the arc starting from the Late Mesozoic was briefly described.

Geology and origin of Ag–Pb–Zn deposits occurring in the Ulaan-Jiawula metallogenic province, northeast Asia

Located at the conjunction area of China, Mongolia and Russia in NE Asia, the Ulaan-Jiawula (also referred as UJ) region, with an area of 400,000km2, is one of the most important Ag–Pb–Zn, U, Sn, W, Nb–Ta, and Au metallogenic provinces in Asia. At present, 2126 deposits and showings including 500 Ag–Pb–Zn deposits have been discovered, explored and mined since the late 1960s. These Ag–Pb–Zn occurrences can be subdivided into three types according to their geological setting, texture, alteration and mineral assemblages: (1) low sulfidation epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn deposits; (2) intermediate sulfidation epithermal Ag–Pb–Zn deposits; (3) mixed-type Ag–Pb–Zn deposit consisting of vein-like and tabular ore bodies. The Eren Tologoi and Tsagenbulagen deposits are representative of low-sulphidation type Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization in the UJ region, and are associated with intensive adularization and sericitization. Ore occurs as mineralized quartz veins, veinlet groups and altered-fracture zones within Mesozoic alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks, Ore mineralogy includes native silver, electrum, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, pyrargyrite and chalcopyrite. The Tsav and Jiawula deposits are typical of intermediate sulfidation Ag–Pb–Zn mineralization. The δ34S value of sulfide (pyrite and galena) separates from groups 1 and 2 varies from 1.5‰ to 3.5‰ and 2.0‰ to 4.5‰, respectively. The δ34S values of the Mesozoic volcanic host rocks for groups 1 and 2 deposits also show the positive δ34S values of 1.5–4.8‰, while the δ34S value of pyrite separate from the pre-Jurassic schist range from −6‰ to −8‰ which are much lower than Mesozoic volcanic host rocks and their associated ore deposits. There is no difference between the δ34S value of sulfide (pyrite and galena) separates from vein-like ore bodies of the group 3 deposits and their wall rocks, having δ34S value of 1.0–5.0‰ and 1.2–4.5‰ which are similar to that of groups 1 and 2 deposits. For the Mesozoic monzogranite porphyry dykes and their associated tabular skarn ore bodies, the pyrite separates show δ34S values of 2–5‰ and 1.8–3‰. All of these deposits show relatively radiogenic lead isotopic compositions compared to mantle or lower crust curves. Most lead isotope data of sulfides from the Ag–Pb–Zn ores plot between the Mesozoic volcano–hypabyssal rocks and pre-Jurassic metamorphic rocks. Monzogranite dykes at Ulaan and Noyon Tologoi have εNd (T) values ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 that are similar to most of the Mesozoic granite with positive εNd (T) values in the Great Hinggan Mountains-Mongolia orogenic belt. Data are interpreted as indicative of a mixing of ore-forming materials from mantle-derived alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline magma with these from pre-Jurassic metamorphic wall rocks. Isotopic age data, geological and geochemical evidence suggest that the ore fluids for the Ag–Pb–Zn deposits were generated during eruption or emplacement of the Mesozoic alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline magma. The Mesozoic magmas may provide heat, volatiles and metals for the group 1 and 2 deposits. Evolved metamorphic fluids produced by devolatilization, circulated the wall rocks, were also progressively involved in the magmatic hydrothermal system, and may have dominated the ore fluids during late stage ore-forming processes. Most of the Ag–Pb–Zn bodies that occur along the contact of the pre-Jurassic marble and Cretaceous monzogranite porphyry dykes at Ulaan and Noyon Tologoi are closely associated with skarn. The ore fluid of these group 3 deposit may have resulted from the mixing of Mesozoic magmatic water and evolved metamorphic fluids. Ore deposition in this instance would be the product of the interaction of the Mesozoic intrusions and pre-Jurassic carbonate rocks.

Palaeoproterozoic (~1.89 Ga) felsic volcanism of the Iricoumé Group, Guyana Shield, South America: geochemical and Sm-Nd isotopic constraints on sources and tectonic environment

Hypabyssal and explosive volcanic rocks of the Iricoumé Group crop out in the Western Erepecuru–Trombetas Domain, in the Central Amazonian Province, south of the Guyana Shield. They are part of an extensive volcano–plutonic event, which marked the central part of the Amazonian Craton during the Orosirian. These volcanic rocks, formed at approximately 1.89 Ga, consist of pyroclastic rocks (ignimbrites, rheoignimbrites, surge-related lapilli-tuff, co-ignimbrite fall tuff) and subordinate felsic hypabyssal rocks. An older episode, with an age of approximately 1.99 Ga, occurs locally and is represented by latitic lava flows and spessartitic lamprophyres. The geochemical characteristics of the Iricoumé volcanic rocks suggest that they formed in a post-orogenic tectonic setting, while those of the older Orosirian magmatism suggest a subduction-related geodynamic setting. TDM model ages ranging from 2.18 to 2.39 Ga and slightly negative εNd(T) values for most of the Iricoumé volcanic rocks indicate dominant Rhyacian crustal sources for the parental magmas. The positive εNd(T) values exhibited by some Iricoumé rhyolites (TDM: 1.98 and 2.06 Ga) and by the 1.99 Ga lava flows and lamprophyre (TDM: 2.13 and 2.21 Ga) suggest a juvenile mantle source, although a minor contribution of Palaeoproterozoic crust cannot be ruled out. These new results furnish further evidence of the wide extent of the Iricoumé Group and coeval volcano–plutonic associations in the central part of the Amazonian Craton.

Vestiges of the proto-Caribbean seaway: Origin of the San Souci Volcanic Group, Trinidad

Outcrops of volcanic–hypabyssal rocks in Trinidad document the opening of the proto-Caribbean seaway during Jurassic–Cretaceous break-up of the Americas. The San Souci Group on the northern coast of Trinidad comprises the San Souci Volcanic Formation (SSVF) and passive margin sediments of the ~ 130–125 Ma Toco Formation. The Group was trapped at the leading edge of the Pacific-derived Caribbean Plate during the Cretaceous–Palaeogene, colliding with the para-autochthonous margin of Trinidad during the Oligocene–Miocene. In-situ U–Pb ion probe dating of micro-zircons from a mafic volcanic breccia reveal the SSVF crystallised at 135.0 ± 7.3 Ma. The age of the SSVF is within error of the age of the Toco Formation. Assuming a conformable contact, geodynamic models indicate a likely origin for the SSVF on the passive margin close to the northern tip of South America. Immobile element and Nd–Hf radiogenic isotope signatures of the mafic rocks indicate the SSVF was formed by ≪10% partial melting of a heterogeneous spinel peridotite source with no subduction or continental lithospheric mantle component. Felsic breccias within the SSVF are more enriched in incompatible elements, with isotope signatures that are less radiogenic than the mafic rocks of the SSVF. The felsic rocks may be derived from re-melting of mafic crust. Although geochemical comparisons are drawn here with proto-Caribbean igneous outcrops in Venezuela and elsewhere in the Caribbean more work is needed to elucidate the development of the proto-Caribbean seaway and its rifted margins. In particular, ion probe dating of micro-zircons may yield valuable insights into magmatism and metamorphism in the Caribbean, and in altered basaltic terranes more generally.

Tertiary alkaline Roztoky Intrusive Complex, České středohoří Mts., Czech Republic: petrogenetic characteristics

The Ceske středohoři Mts. is the dominant volcanic center of the Ohře (Eger) rift zone. It hosts the Roztoky Intrusive Complex (RIC), which is made up of a caldera vent and intrusions of 33–28-Ma-old hypabyssal bodies of essexite–monzodiorite–sodalite syenite series accompanied by a radially oriented 30–25-Ma-old dike swarm comprising about 1,000 dikes. The hypabyssal rocks are mildly alkaline mostly foid-bearing types of mafic to intermediate compositions. The dike swarm consists of chemically mildly alkaline and rare strongly alkaline rocks (tinguaites). The geochemical signatures of the mildly alkaline hypabyssal and associated dike rocks of the RIC are consistent with HIMU mantle sources and contributions from lithospheric mantle. The compositional variations of essexite and monzodiorite can be best explained by fractional crystallization of parent magma without significant contributions of crustal material. On the other hand, the composition of monzosyenite, leuco-monzodiorite and sodalite syenite reflects fractional crystallization coupled with variable degrees of crustal assimilation. It is suggested that the parent magmas in the Ohře rift were produced by an adiabatic decompression melting of ambient upper mantle in response to lithospheric extension associated with the Alpine Orogeny.

Evidence for seamount accretion to a peri-Laurentian arc during closure of Iapetus 1This article is one of a series of papers published in CJES Special Issue: In honour of Ward Neale on the theme of Appalachian and Grenvillian geology.2 Geological Survey of Canada Contribution 20100465.

The Red Indian Line is the fundamental Iapetus suture zone in the Newfoundland Appalchians along which the main tract of the Iapetus Ocean was consumed. Despite being the site of the closure of a wide ocean, few vestiges of the Iapetus plate have been accreted along Red Indian Line. Ordovician rocks in the Notre Dame Bay area preserve the only evidence for accretion of a seamount in Newfoundland. The seamount is characterized by alkali basalt and hypabyssal rocks that are juxtaposed with Darriwilian peri-Laurentian volcanic arc rocks (466 ± 4 and 467 ± 4 Ma) along a major mylonite zone. The mylonite zone lacks sedimentary rocks suggesting that the seamount was accreted to the arc along a sediment-starved interface and that significant subduction erosion took place along the Laurentian margin. Identification of subduction erosion indicates that an accretionary prism did not exist outboard of Laurentia in Newfoundland, in contrast to the well developed accretionary prisms of the Caledonides.

반상조직에 대한 초임 지구과학교사들의 인식

This study is to explore the Pedagogical Content Knowledge of beginning earth science teachers about the porphyritic texture of igneous rocks, and to suggest the teaching device that can prevent a trial and error of students in earth science instruction. We developed an interview guideline concerned with basic perception on the porphyritic texture, formation condition and formation process of porphyritic rocks, teaching and learning on porphyritic rocks for it. And data was collected from 5 beginning earth science teachers (3 high schools, 2 middle schools) through a group discussion method. In result, despite the porphyritic texture can be found at hypabyssal rocks as well as volcano rocks and plutonic rocks, most beginning earth science teachers cognized that it could be found at hypabyssal rocks only by focusing the formation depth of hypabyssal rocks. Also, the formation of porphyritic texture should be considered the factors such as cooling rate, nucleation density, growth rate, growth time, etc. However they mainly reflected the formation temperature and growth rate as it's parameter. Participants have wrongly perceived that a phenocryst necessarily differs from a groundmass on chemical composition. And they are inclined to discriminate phenocryst from groundmass through their chemical differences, instead of grain size.

The low-grade Canal de las Montañas Shear Zone and its role in the tectonic emplacement of the Sarmiento Ophiolitic Complex and Late Cretaceous Patagonian Andes orogeny, Chile

The Canal de las Montañas Shear Zone (CMSZ), southern Patagonian Andes (51–52°S), is a low-grade mylonite belt generated from felsic ignimbritic, pelitic and basaltic protoliths of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Rocas Verdes basin. The different types of rock fabrics across the CMSZ are thought to be associated with relatively intermediate and high strain conditions, characterized by the development of a narrow western belt of S–C´-type mylonites and phyllonites interpreted as the metamorphic sole thrust of the Sarmiento Ophiolitic Complex. Highly strained rocks of the CMSZ display a reverse, continent-ward tectonic transport, with a minor dextral component of shearing. Transitional pumpellyite–actinolite and upper greenschist facies metamorphic conditions at ca. 5–6kbar and 230–260°C indicate that the primary shearing event occurred in a subduction zone setting. In-situ 40Ar/39Ar laserprobe chronology yielded ages of ca. 85Ma on syntectonic phengite which are interpreted as representing cooling synchronous with mica crystallization during the main compressive deformational event. The 78–81Ma U–Pb zircon crystallization ages of cross-cutting plutonic and hypabyssal rocks and 40Ar/39Ar amphibole age of ca.79Ma from lamprophyric dikes within the fold-thrust belt constrain an upper age limit of the ophiolite tectonic emplacement deformation.

The volatile content of hypabyssal kimberlite magmas: some constraints from experiments on natural rock compositions

Kimberlites are volatile rich magmas that ascend from deep in the mantle at high velocities, then as they reach a ‘root zone’ at 1–3 km in depth they either discharge explosively through to the surface or stall to form dykes and sills. Understanding this eruptive behaviour is difficult due to a lack of data on volatile solubility, particularly at conditions where the magmas enter the ‘root zone’ (∼30–80 MPa). In this study, we perform experiments on some putative primary kimberlite magma compositions to assess the amount of CO2 and H2O retained if these compositions represent magma as it enters the root zone. At the conditions investigated (100–200 MPa and 1,275–1,100°C) the results suggest that none of these particular kimberlite compositions reproduce a magma that can retain the observed high volatile content when intruded at these pressures (∼4–8 km). In our experiments, the low volatile retention is due to a combination of factors including a high proportion of solid phases, none of which are volatile-bearing, and inadequate volatile solubilities in the subordinate amounts of melt present. Modelled solubilities also suggest that the dissolved volatile contents remain too low even at super-liquidus temperatures (i.e. 100% melt). For water, the higher values observed in natural rocks can be explained by the addition of H2O associated with ubiquitous post-emplacement serpentinization. The high CO2 contents in hypabyssal rocks are unlikely to be related to alteration. We suggest that most kimberlites originally had lower SiO2 contents and as such may have been ‘transitional’ between silicate and carbonate melts. This results in both higher CO2 solubilities and lower liquidus temperatures. For such compositions, it is possible that both CO2 and water solubility may first decrease and then increase as magmas decompress and crystallize. Such unusual behaviour can help explain why kimberlite magmas can be very explosive or form shallow hypabyssal intrusions.

백악기 후기 미시령 병반의 기하학적 복원과 백담분지의 규모에 관한 소고

As a product of geological mapping of the Changamjeom Sheet (1:50,000) located around Misiryeong at a distance towards the west from Sokcho city, a small laccolith of hypabyssal rocks has been geometrically reconstructed to understand the original laccolith shape using structural contour lines of random spot sediments laid on the quartz feldspar porphyry and a schematic cross section. The laccolith age is constrained to ca. Ma (SHRIMP). The originated Baekdam sedimentary basin with the lost size has been yielded to 6 km wide and 16 km long.

Zircon U-Pb age of the Pescadero felsite: A Late Cretaceous igneous event in the forearc, west-central California Coast Ranges

Weathered felsite is associated with the late Campanian–Maastrichtian Pigeon Point Formation near Pescadero, California. Poorly exposed, its age and correlation are uncertain. Is it part of the Pigeon Point section west of the San Gregorio–Hosgri fault? Does it rest on Nacimiento block basement? Is it dextrally offset from the Oligocene Cambria Felsite, ~185 km to the southeast? Why is a calc-alkaline hypabyssal igneous rock intrusive into the outboard accretionary prism? To address these questions, we analyzed 43 oscillatory-zoned zircon crystals from three incipiently recrystallized pumpellyite ± prehnite ± laumontite-bearing Pescadero felsite samples by sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe–reverse geometry (SHRIMP-RG) and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) techniques. Thirty-three zircons gave late Mesozoic U-Pb ages, with single-grain values ranging from 81 to 167 Ma; ten have pre-Mesozoic, chiefly Proterozoic ages. A group of the four youngest Pescadero zircons yielded an apparent maximum igneous age of ca. 86–90 Ma. Reflecting broad age scatter and presence of partly digested sandstone inclusions, we interpret the rest of the zircons (perhaps all) as xenocrysts. Twenty-three zircons were separated and analyzed from two samples of the similar Cambria Felsite, yielding a unimodal 27 Ma U-Pb age. Clearly, the origin of the Upper Oligocene Cambria Felsite is different from that of the Upper Cretaceous Pescadero felsite; these rocks are not correlated, and do not constrain displacement along the San Gregorio–Hosgri fault. Peak ages differ slightly, but relative probability curves for Mesozoic and pre-Mesozoic Pescadero zircons compare well, for example, with abundant U-Pb age data for detrital zircons from Franciscan metaclastic strata ~100 km to the east in the Diablo Range-San Francisco Bay area, San Joaquin Great Valley Group turbidites, Upper Cretaceous Nacimiento block Franciscan strata, and Upper Cretaceous forearc units of the Transverse Ranges. Based on zircon U-Pb ages, geologic and petrographic relations, the Pescadero felsite and a capping, sheared metaconglomerate underlie the Pigeon Point Formation. We infer that the magma formed by anatexis of Franciscan or Great Valley clastic sedimentary rocks originating from a parental Mesozoic Sierran-Mojave-Salinian calc-alkaline arc. The felsite erupted during Late Cretaceous time, was metamorphosed to pumpellyite-prehnite grade within the subduction zone, and then was rapidly exhumed, weakly zeolitized, and exposed before Pigeon Point forearc deposition. Pescadero volcanism apparently reflects a previously unrecognized ca. 86–90 Ma felsic igneous event in the accretionary margin.

Petrochemistry and tectonic setting of mafic volcanic rocks in the Chon Daen–Wang Pong area, Phetchabun, Thailand

AbstractThe mafic volcanic rocks and hypabyssal rocks in the Chon Dean‐Wang Pong area are possibly the southern extension of the western Loei Volcanic Sub‐belt, Northeast Thailand. They are least‐altered, and might have been formed in Permian–Triassic times. The rocks are commonly porphyritic, with different amounts of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, amphibole, Fe–Ti oxide, unknown mafic mineral, and apatite phenocrysts or microphenocrysts, and are uncommonly seriate textured. The groundmass mainly shows an intergranular texture, with occasionally hyalophitic, intersertal and ophitic–subophitic textures. The groundmass constituents have the same minerals as the phenocrysts or microphenocrysts and may contain altered glass. The groundmass plagioclase laths may show a preferred orientation. Chemically, the studied rock samples can be separated into three magmatic groups: Group I, Group II, and Group III. These magmatic groups are different in values for Ti/Zr ratios. The averaged Ti/Zr values for Group I, Group II, and Group III rocks are 83 ± 6, 46 ± 12, and 29 ± 5, respectively. In addition, the Group I rocks have higher P/Zr, but lower Zr/Nb relative to Group II and Group III rocks. The Group I and Group II rocks comprise tholeiitic andesite–basalt and microdiorite–microgabbro, while the Group III rocks are calc‐alkalic andesite and microdiorite. According to the magmatic affinities and the negative Nb anomalies on normal mid‐oceanic ridge basalt (N‐MORB) normalized multi‐element plot, arc‐related lavas are persuasive. The similarity between the studied lavas and the Quaternary lavas from the northern Kyukyu Arc, in terms of chondrite‐normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns and N‐MORB normalized multi‐element patterns, leads to a conclusion that the mafic volcanic rocks and hypabyssal rocks in the Chon Daen–Wang Pong area have been formed in a volcanic arc environment.

Permo-Triassic hypabyssal mafic intrusions and associated tholeiitic basalts of the Kolyuchinskaya Bay, Chukotka (NE Russia): Links to the Siberian LIP

In order to test tectonic hypotheses regarding the evolution of the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka microplate prior to the opening of the Amerasian basin, we investigated rocks exposed near Kolyuchinskaya Bay, eastern Chukotka. Hypabyssal mafic rocks and associated basaltic flows enclose terrigenous sediments, minor cherts and limestones in pillow interstices. The hypabyssal mafic rock yields a U–Pb zircon age of 252 ± 4 Ma and indicates intrusion of basic magma at the Permo-Triassic boundary, contemporaneous with voluminous magmatism of the Siberian large igneous province (LIP). The lava flows and hypabyssal mafic rocks of the Kolyuchinskaya Bay region have trace elements, Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isotope compositions identical to the tholeiitic flood basalts of the main plateau stage of the Siberian LIP, but differ from the latter in the major-element variations. We conclude that compositional variations in the hypabyssal rocks studied reflect their generation in an extensional environment that might be related to the Siberian super-plume activity at the time. Although the genetic and temporal links between intrusive mafic rocks and lavas are not well proved, compositional variations of the eruptive rocks still indicate their generation in an extensional environment.

Tectonic setting of the Jurassic bimodal magmatism in the Sakarya Zone (Central and Western Pontides), Northern Turkey: A geochemical and isotopic approach

The Lower to Middle Jurassic Mudurnu formation of the Sakarya Zone (Northern Turkey) was deposited in an extensional basin. This unit crops out along the southern Pontide range and consists of marine sedimentary rocks including debris flows, lignite-bearing clastic rocks and Ammonitico Rosso horizons alternating with mafic and felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. Magmatic rocks of the Mudurnu formation comprise two compositionally different groups; 1) a mafic group including diabase–microgabbro–basaltic lavas and their pyroclastic equivalents, and 2) a felsic group including granite porphyries and felsic pyroclastic rocks. All the magmatic members of the Mudurnu formation are subalkaline and display a calc-alkaline affinity. They are bimodal, with a significant silica gap between the mafic and felsic members with the exception of a few samples. These magmatic rocks display enrichment in LILE and depletion in Nb, Ta, P and Ti, implying a subduction-related magmatic signature. Melting modelling for the mafic rocks indicates that they originated possibly from subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) composed of spinel lherzolite. εNd(i) values (+ 1.5 to + 4.3) imply that the mafic volcanic and hypabyssal rocks were possibly derived from a time-integrated LREE-depleted mantle source. The initial Sr and Nd isotope values, and εNd(i) of the felsic hypabyssal rocks are comparable to the mafic ones. The isotope data point to a genetic relationship between the felsic and mafic members. Results obtained from the geochemical modelling of incompatible versus compatible trace elements show that the felsic rocks were derived from the mafic melts by fractional crystallization (FC) process. In the light of their regional geological setting and these geochemical characteristics, we propose that the magmatic rocks of the Mudurnu formation formed in an extensional basin situated on an active and/or just ended subduction zone during the Jurassic period. The Mudurnu formation is a good example of extensional magmatism derived from a depleted mantle source that displayed subduction signatures and that was modified by fluids from a long-lived subduction event.

Upper crustal structure of an active volcano from refraction/reflection tomography, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles

To better understand the volcanic phenomena acting on Montserrat, the SEA-CALIPSO seismic experiment (Seismic Experiment with Airgun-source – Caribbean Andesitic Lava Island Precision Seismo-geodetic Observatory) was conducted in 2007 December with the aim of imaging the upper crust and the magmatic system feeding the active Soufriére Hills Volcano. The 3-D survey covered an area of about 50 × 40 km and involved the deployment of 247 land stations and ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs). A subset of the data, recorded by four OBSs and four land stations on a southeast to northwest line, has been analysed, and traveltimes have been inverted to obtain a 2-D seismic velocity model through the island. Inverted phases include crustal and sediment P waves and wide-angle reflections. The resulting velocity model reveals the presence of a high velocity body (3.5–5.5 km s-1) beneath the island, with highest velocities beneath the Soufriére and Centre Hills, corresponding primarily to the cores of these volcanic edifices, built of a pile of andesite lava domes and subsequent intrusions. In the offshore region, velocities in the surficial sediment layer vary from 1.5 to 3.0 km s-1, consistent with a mainly calcareous and volcaniclastic composition. A wide-angle reflector is observed at a depth of ∼1200 m below the seabed, and appears to deepen beneath the island. The upper crust beneath this reflector has velocities of 4.0–6.0 km s-1 and is inferred to correspond to plutonic and hypabyssal rocks and sedimentary material of the old arc. The high velocity region beneath the island, extends into the crust to a depth of at least 5 km, and is believed to be caused by an intrusive complex, possibly of intermediate composition. A low velocity zone, as would be expected in the presence of an active magma chamber, was not observed perhaps due to the limited resolution beneath ∼5 km depth. Our results so far provide the first wide-angle seismic constraints on the upper crustal structure of the island to a depth of 10 km, and will help understanding the processes that drive volcanism at Montserrat and other island arc volcanoes.

Variscan intra-orogenic extensional tectonics in the Ossa-Morena Zone (Évora-Aracena-Lora del Rı́o metamorphic belt, SW Iberian Massif): SHRIMP zircon U-Th-Pb geochronology

Abstract Following a Middle–Late Devonian ( c . 390–360 Ma) phase of crustal shortening and mountain building, continental extension and onset of high-medium-grade metamorphic terrains occurred in the SW Iberian Massif during the Visean ( c . 345–326 Ma). The Évora–Aracena–Lora del Rı́o metamorphic belt extends along the Ossa–Morena Zone southern margin from south Portugal through the south of Spain, a distance of 250 km. This major structural domain is characterized by local development of high-temperature–low-pressure metamorphism ( c . 345–335 Ma) that reached high amphibolite to granulite facies. These high-medium-grade metamorphic terrains consist of strongly sheared Ediacaran and Cambrian–early Ordovician ( c . 600–480 Ma) protoliths. The dominant structure is a widespread steeply-dipping foliation with a gently-plunging stretching lineation generally oriented parallel to the fold axes. Despite of the wrench nature of this collisional orogen, kinematic indicators of left-lateral shearing are locally compatible with an oblique component of extension. These extensional transcurrent movements associated with pervasive mylonitic foliation ( c . 345–335 Ma) explain the exhumation of scarce occurrences of eclogites ( c . 370 Ma). Mafic-intermediate plutonic and hypabyssal rocks ( c . 355–320 Ma), mainly I-type high-K calc-alkaline diorites, tonalites, granodiorites, gabbros and peraluminous biotite granites, are associated with these metamorphic terrains. Volcanic rocks of the same chemical composition and age are preserved in Tournaisian–Visean ( c . 350–335 Ma) marine basins dominated by detrital sequences with local development of syn-sedimentary gravitational collapse structures. This study, supported by new U–Pb zircon dating, demonstrates the importance of intra-orogenic transtension in the Gondwana margin during the Early Carboniferous when the Rheic ocean between Laurussia and Gondwana closed, forming the Appalachian and Variscan mountains.