Paleoproterozoic Magmatic Arc Research Articles

Buried Paleoproterozoic orogen of the East European Craton: Age and origin of the Vyatka terrane

We studied the composition, isotopic geochemistry and zircon U–Pb dating of Paleoproterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Uni Formation and granitoids of the Talitsky Complex of the Vyatka terrane located on the northeastern margin of the East European Craton. The obtained data were used to constrain the age, origin and tectonic setting of the Vyatka terrane, which is thought to be a part of the Paleoproterozoic Vyatka–Kama orogenic belt.Most of the gneisses and schists of the Uni Formation have greywacke protoliths, while metatuffites of andesite to dacite compositions are subordinate. All of these rocks have similar suprasubduction geochemical characteristics and highly radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions. The age of magmatic zircons from the felsic metatuffites is 2.08 Ga, and individual detrital grains from these rocks date back to ca. 2.12 Ga. Detrital zircons from the metasedimentary rocks have well-preserved crystals and multimodal U–Pb age distributions peaking at 2.08, 2.10, and 2.14 Ga. Some zircons from migmatized gneisses have 2.05-Ga-old rims, corresponding to the age of the Talitsky granitoids. The obtained data suggest that the Vyatka terrane could be considered an accretionary complex of the Vyatka–Kama orogen. The Uni Formation was formed by the accretion of sediments derived from an eroding Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs (2.08–2.14 Ga). The completion of the accretionary tectonics was marked by the intrusion of the ca. 2.05-Ga-aged post-tectonic Talitsky granitoids.The Vyatka terrane accretionary complex contains chronologic counterparts of the West Sarmatian and Volga–Don orogens. This complements the model of a simultaneous amalgamation of Archean blocks of the Volgo–Sarmatia dating back to 2.2–2.0 Ga. Data from the Vyatka terrane confirm the model of the superposition of the East European and Siberian cratons in the Paleoproterozoic Columbia/Nuna supercontinent reconstruction. The Vyatka–Kama and Batomga belts may have been parts of a single extended Paleoproterozoic orogen that combined the Archean Volgo–Uralia and Aldan composite terranes.

The Serra da Serpentina Group: a back-arc basin related to the Paleoproterozoic Minas-Bahia orogeny?

In the Rhyacian and Orosirian periods, Archean crustal fragments and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs were amalgamated into the São Francisco-Congo Paleocontinent during the Minas-Bahia orogeny. In the foreland terranes of the orogen, a BIF-bearing metasedimentary sequence including the Serra da Serpentina Group and its correlates is extensively exposed but still poorly characterized. A geochemical study undertaken in the basal succession of Serra da Serpentina Group comprising schists, phyllites, and quartzites of the Meloso Formation, delineates the characteristics of the sediment source and constrain the tectonic environment and crustal evolution of the Serra da Serpentina basin. Trace and REE geochemistry studies reveal that clastic sediments of the Meloso Formation comprise mantle and upper crustal-derived source components. The meta-ultramafic Serro-Alvorada de Minas Suite, the Minas-Bahia magmatic rocks, and the Archean TTG terranes are the main potential source rocks for the Meloso basin infilling, as also suggested by the detrital zircon age spectra.Our results suggest the opening of a back-arc basin stretching along the Mantiqueira magmatic arc in response to the Minas-Bahia Orogen during the Rhyacian-Orosirian. The Serra da Serpentina Group was deposited in this environment associated with crustal thinning and local development of submarine volcanism. This assembly shares similarities with the upper Minas Supergroup that comprises the Piracicaba and Sabará groups, suggesting a cogenetic sedimentation.

Paleoproterozoic metagabbro xenolith in the southeastern Dom Feliciano Belt, southern Brazil: A new piece in the West Gondwana assembly

The eastern portion of the Dom Feliciano Belt in southernmost Brazil, known as Pelotas Terrane, is composed of Neoproterozoic rocks presenting metamorphic xenoliths in granitoid rocks, described and interpreted as “basement inliers”. Based on novel petrographic, mineral/whole rock/Sr–Nd geochemistry and U–Pb geochronological data, this paper presents the first record of a Paleoproterozoic metagabbro xenolith in the Pelotas Terrane. The studied xenolith exhibits a sharp and angular contact with the host rock and a predominant granoblastic texture, with sub-vertical mm-to cm-thick metamorphic banding, marked by the felsic and mafic bands, composed respectively of bytownite (An85) ± quartz, and diopside ± tremolite ± epidote. Zircon, apatite, and iron/titanium oxides occur as accessory minerals. The peak metamorphism for this rock is estimated at amphibolite facies conditions. The whole-rock chemistry of the metagabbro suggests a basic derivation (e.g., SiO2 52 wt%; Al2O3 12 wt%; Ni 33 ppm). The spidergrams demonstrate high LILE and HFSE concentrations. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show enrichment in LREE. The Sr–Nd isotopic data show 87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.701024, εNd(i) = 5.44, and Nd-TDM = 2.1 Ga. The metagabbro yielded a U–Pb Concordia age with analytical points arranged in a Discordia line. The upper intercept was interpreted as a magmatic crystallization age of 2.1 Ga (zircon cores), and the lower intercept indicated a resetting age of 616 Ma (zircon rims). The obtained Archean age (2.8 Ga) is interpreted as inherited. Gabbro's metamorphism likely reached the amphibolite facies, elemental and isotopic geochemistry. The remote zircon inheritance of xenoliths that have had polycyclic survival is used to link the occurrence of a gabbro xenolith, in the Pelotas Terrane (Dom Feliciano Belt; Southern Brazil), whose magmatic crystallization age is Paleoproterozoic, with the basement terranes before the Namaquan orogeny, in the Rehoboth region (Gariep Belt and Bushmanland/Namaqualand; Namibia). These units could be related to the evolution of an ancient Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc formed by the convergence of two Archean continents during the evolution of the Atlantica Supercontinent.

The Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc of Trivandrum Block, southern India: From Columbia to Gondwana

The southern part of Peninsular India is designated as the ‘Southern Granulite Terrane’ (SGT), the southern domain of which is composed of three Paleoproterozoic crustal segments – the Madras, Trivandrum and Nagercoil blocks. The Trivandrum block is mostly covered by metasupracrustals, termed as khondalites, representing granulite facies metapelites with the basement rocks occurring as NW-SE trending ribbon-like exposures and previously termed as massive charnockites. Here we investigate these basement rocks and identify that they are dominantly composed of charnockites (felsic) and enderbites (intermediate) corresponding to orthopyroxene bearing granulite facies granitoids, together with (meta) gabbro and diorite. We present petrologic, geochemical and zircon U-Pb-Hf and REE data on these rocks. The gabbros are mostly ferroan and calc-alkaline to calcic affinity with tholeiitic parentage. Their REE patterns are relatively flat and both REE and trace element plots indicate an E-MBORB source. The diorites are ferroan and tholeiitic with calcic to calc-alkaline nature and are slightly metaluminous The enderbite corresponds to granodioritic composition with ferroan signature and tholeiitic lineage. The charnockites are high silica granitoids with a transitional feature between magnesian and ferroan. Marked LREE enrichment and steep LREE to HREE slope, HFSE depletion, and other geochemical features suggest arc magmatic affinity in a subduction-related setting. Trace element discrimination plots also suggest subduction-related origin for all the rock types. Zircon U-Pb data show that the gabbro, charnockite and enderbite are broadly coeval with magma emplacement during the Paleoproterozoic at 1990–1962 Ma, and the dominantly positive εHf(t) values (up to + 7.0) indicate formation of new crust from juvenile magmas. The diorites represent a slightly younger phase of magmatism at 1808–1794 Ma involving crustal recycling as indicated by the negative εHf(t) values (-5.8 to −10.5). The construction of the Trivandrum block correlates with the timing of assembly of Columbia. Zircon U-Pb data also date the timing of metamorphism as 590–496 Ma, suggesting long-lived heat input and metamorphism, coinciding with Gondwana amalgamation. A compilation of the zircon U-Pb-Hf data from this block shows a major pulse of magmatism at ca. 2.1 to 1.9 Ga that involved building of new crust from juvenile magmatic sources. In contrast, the younger pulse which lasted up to 1.7 Ga dominantly involved the reworking of Paleoproterozoic as well as the vestiges of ancient Meso-Neoarchean crust. Thus, the Trivandrum Block records the gradual maturity of a subduction-related magmatic arc within a Paleoproterozoic convergent margin regime. The lithologic assemblages from the basement of Trivandrum block trace the history from the Paleoproterozoic Columbia to the late Neoproterozoic – Cambrian Gondwana supercontinents.

A Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc in the Trans-North China Orogen: Petrological and geochemical constraints from the Tianzhen gneisses in the Huai'an Complex

In the past two decades, extensive investigations have been carried out on the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), a Himalayan-type continental collisional belt along which the Eastern Block and the Western Block amalgamated to form the basement of the North China Craton. There are now coherent outlines of the timing and tectonic processes involved in the Paleoproterozoic amalgamation of the TNCO. However, pre-collisional tectonic setting and driving mechanism of the TNCO still remain controversial. To resolve these issues, we carried out field petrological and geochemical investigations on the Tianzhen gneisses from the Huai9an Complex in the TNCO. The Tianzhen gneisses consist predominantly of tonalitic-trondhjemitic-granodioritic (TTG) series, which can be further divided into low-Yb and high-Yb types. Our results indicate that although both low-Yb and high-Yb TTG series were formed in a magmatic arc environment, their petrogenetic origins were different. The Huai9an low-Yb TTG magma was derived from the partial melting of subducted oceanic crust consisting of eclogite or 30% garnet-bearing amphibolite under 15 to 20 kbar or even higher pressure, with garnet, amphibole, and rutile as residues. In contrast, the high-Yb TTG magma was derived from the partial melting of subducted oceanic slab consisting of garnet-free or 7% garnet amphibolite under 10 to 15 kbar, leaving residual garnet and amphibole. Both magmas then interacted with the overlying mantle wedge during ascent. Thus, it can be concluded that the Tianzhen TTG magmas were derived from the partial melting of subducted oceanic crust and interaction with mantle peridotite, supporting a magmatic arc setting for the Huai9an Complex during Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic time. Associated with other analogous gneiss complexes in the TNCO, a long-lived Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc system is established in the Trans-North China Orogen.

Rhyacian magmatic arc rocks with sanukitoid geochemical signature from the Juiz de Fora Complex, Minas-Bahia Orogenic System (SE-Brazil)

Sanukitoid rocks make up a complete magmatic series with distinct geochemical characteristics of TTG suites and granitoids from modern magmatic arcs and are regarded as markers of the transition from typically Archean geodynamics to modern plate tectonics. Although most known sanukitoid suites formed during the Neoarchean and Mesoarchean, numerous papers have characterized Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc granitoid rocks showing affinity with the sanukitoid series. This work presents new data from field, lithogeochemistry, zircon U-Pb geochronology, and Sm-Nd and Sr isotopic studies on granodioritic granulites with sanukitoid signatures from the Juiz de Fora Complex (JFC), one of the Paleoproterozoic tectonic components of the Minas-Bahia Orogenic System (MBOS), southern São Francisco Paleocontinent (southeastern Brazil). These rocks crystallized at ~2175 Ma and present values of εNdt between −4.0 and +0.5, TDM between 2.57 and 2.12 Ga, and 87Sr/86Sri between 0.6937 and 0.7137. We interpret these rocks as the result of crystallization of magmas from a hybrid mantle source extensively contaminated by crustal material during protracted subduction. In southeastern São Francisco Paleocontinent, the association of sanukitoid rocks with other magmatic arc rocks points to a complex and prolonged Rhyacian accretionary system similar to modern plate tectonics.

Geological knowledge advances on the Alto Rio Negro region, northwestern Amazonian Craton, Brazil: a review

This paper presents a literature review of the geology of the Alto Rio Negro region, located in northwestern Brazil. Firstly, we summarize the Amazonian Craton tectonic models and how the study area fits in these different tectonic models. The aim is to organize the literature data and better guide the consultation for new studies. The first geological reports about the Alto Rio Negro are from the Mid-19th century, when the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace travels to this country and, since then, long periods of scientific production absence occur. However, after the RADAMBRASIL Project in the 1970s, there was a significant research advance. Recent publications reveal a complex tectonic evolution, with three events that mark periods of generation and reworking of the Proterozoic basement. Two Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc systems generated the geological basement. The Calymmian collision of these terrains produced a large volume of crustal granites, in addition to pre-, and post-tectonic granites. A crustal reworking period (1.4-1.1 Ga) reactivated the basement structures and, possibly, generated the Ectasian carbonatitic intrusions. There are many difficulties to access this region, so the literature data are of great value and provide a background for new studies. The lack of more detailed geological maps covering the Alto Rio Negro region is the main obstacle. Still, it offers a fertile research field for geologists interested in contributing to diverse research fields of Geology focusing on the Amazonian Craton.

Evidence for a complex accretionary history preceding the amalgamation of Columbia: The Rhyacian Minas-Bahia Orogen, southern São Francisco Paleocontinent, Brazil

The Minas-Bahia orogeny juxtaposed Archean crustal fragments and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs to form the São Francisco-Congo Paleocontinent by the Rhyacian (ca. 2.05 Ga). Unravelling the Minas segment of the Minas-Bahia Orogenic Belt (MBO) is an important key to understanding the role of the São Francisco-Congo Paleocontinent in the construction of the Columbia Supercontinent. The Orosirian (ca. 1.9 Ga) final amalgamation of Columbia was preceded by a complex history of accretion of Archean nuclei and Proterozoic magmatic arcs. We present new whole-rock element geochemistry and isotopic (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd) data and U-Pb ages for granitoid rocks of the main basement complexes located in the southern part of the São Francisco cratonic tip, which displays varied degrees of Neoproterozoic reworking related to the Brasiliano orogeny. Published data for the Campo Belo Complex, the Mineiro Belt and the Piedade Block are combined with the new data set to propose an integrated model for the tectonic evolution of the Minas segment of the MBO. This evolutionary model documents a complete Paleoproterozoic orogenic cycle, from subduction with terrane accretion to collision, followed by late-orogenic collapse. Subduction started diachronously between ca. 2.4 Ga and 2.2 Ga involving various Archean nuclei and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs that were later amalgamated during two collisional events at ca. 2.10 and 2.05 Ga. The oldest tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) to sanukitoid magmatic suites transition are of Neoarchean age in the Piedade block, and of Paleoproterozoic age in the Mineiro belt and Mantiqueira complex, apparently indicating a diachronous onset of plate tectonic processes in different crustal segments. The petrogenesis, geochronology and isotopic signatures of these granitoid rocks provide important evidence towards understanding the periodicity of tectonic processes associated with the supercontinent cycle throughout Earth history.

High Ba–Sr adakitic charnockite suite from the Nagercoil Block, southern India: Vestiges of Paleoproterozoic arc and implications for Columbia to Gondwana

The Nagercoil block is the southernmost crustal segment of the Southern Granulite Terrane (SGT) in India and is mainly composed of charnockitic rocks and felsic gneisses (charnockite suite). In this study, we present petrologic, geochemical, zircon U–Pb, REE, and Hf isotopic studies on the charnockites and leucogneiss from the Nagercoil block. Based on field investigations and petrologic studies, the charnockites can be divided into garnet-bearing and garnet-absent anhydrous granulite facies rocks with orthopyroxene. The charnockites and leucogneiss show transition from adakites to non-adakitic magmatic rocks, with enrichment in LREEs (light rare earth elements) and LILEs (large ion lithophile elements), and depletion in HREEs (heavy rare earth elements) and HFSEs (high field strength elements). Some of the charnockites and the leucogneiss show typical HSA (high silica adakite) characters, (high SiO2, Al2O3, Ba–Sr, La/Yb, and Sr/Y). The HSA is considered to have formed from the interaction of slab derived melts and peridotitic mantle wedge. The high Ba–Sr features were possibly inherited from subducted oceanic crust melting under high thermal gradient during Precambrian. The magmas were underplated and subjected to fractional crystallization. Zircon grains from the charnockite and leucogneiss show zoned magmatic cores surrounded by structureless metamorphic rims. Magmatic zircon grains from the charnockites show ages ranging from 1983 ± 8.8 Ma to 2046 ± 14 Ma, and the metamorphic domains show an age range of 502 ± 14 Ma to 547 ± 8.7 Ma. Zircon from the leucogneiss yielded magmatic and metamorphic ages of 1860 ± 20 Ma and 575.6 ± 8.8 Ma. Both charnockites and leucogneiss show two prominent age peaks at 1987 Ma and 568 Ma. The REE data of the zircon grains show LREE depletion and HREE enrichment, with the metamorphic grains showing more depletion in HREE. Zircon Hf isotopic data of the magmatic cores of zircon grains from the charnockite yielded εHf(t) values from −1.17 to 0.46 with TDM and TDMC and age peaks at 2392 Ma and 2638 Ma, suggesting Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic juvenile sources. We suggest that the high Ba–Sr adakitic charnockite suite from the Nagercoil block formed in a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc setting during the assembly of the Columbia supercontinent, and underwent high-grade metamorphism associated with the amalgamation of the Gondwana supercontinent during the late Neoproterozoic–Cambrian. Our study provides new insights into the vestiges of Columbia fragments within the Gondwana assembly with two distinct cycles of crustal evolution.

Geochemistry and U–Pb zircon ages of the metamafic-ultramafic rocks of the Riacho dos Machados metavolcanosedimentary sequence: Evidence of a late Rhyacian back-arc basin during the assembly of São Francisco-Congo paleocontinent

The São Francisco paleocontinent comprises Archean nuclei and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs which were amalgamated during Siderian to Orosirian thermal-tectonic events (ca. 2.4–2.0 Ga). Located in the Porteirinha domain, one of these Archean segments, the Riacho dos Machados metavolcanosedimentary sequence encompasses metamafites and metaultramafites intercalated with metasedimentary rocks. The metamafites clustered in the Type I category are tholeiitic, present MORB-like affinities and flat REE patterns with enrichment in La, Rb, and Cs. The metamafites from Type II are calc-alkaline, showing arc signatures with enrichment in LILE (Cs, Ba, U, Rb, K) and LREE, and depletion in the HFSE. The associated metaultramafites were classified as high-Mg ultramafic rocks similar to Barberton-Type komatiites, with enrichment in LILE and LREE, Al2O3/TiO2< 16 and Gd/Yb(N) > 1. U–Pb (LA–SF–ICP-MS) zircon analyses were carried out on the Type II hornblendite, unraveling a concordant crystallization age of 2071 ± 9 Ma. Inherited zircons yield a discordant age of 2922 ± 22 Ma and a lower intercept at 473 ± 48 Ma. The hybrid magmatism of the studied metamafites coupled with the inherited zircon grains, indicate that this metavolcanosedimentary sequence was developed in an intra-continental back-arc basin. The rocks from Type I have been originated from MORB-like source with a slightly input of subduction-derived fluids. In its turn, Type II samples represent melts more influenced by the fluids from the dehydrated slab. This assumption implies that the São Francisco paleocontinent, in the region of the Porteirinha block and surroundings, were under an accretionary stage at the late Rhyacian. During this orogenic process the metamorphic PT conditions reached lower-amphibolite facies. Moreover, this thermal-tectonic event in likely responsible for the auriferous fluid percolation of the Riacho dos Machados Gold Mine.

Neoarchean and Rhyacian TTG-Sanukitoid suites in the southern São Francisco Paleocontinent, Brazil: Evidence for diachronous change towards modern tectonics

The southern portion of the São Francisco Palaeocontinent in Brazil is denoted by Archean nuclei and Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs that were amalgamated during Siderian to Orosirian orogenic processes (ca. 2.4–2.1 ​Ga). New isotopic U–Pb in zircon and Sm–Nd whole rock combined with major and trace element composition analyses constrain the crystallization history of the Neoarchean Piedade block (at ca. 2.6 ​Ga) and the Paleoproterozoic Mantiqueira Complex (ca. 2.1–1.9 ​Ga). These therefore display quite different magmatic histories prior to their amalgamation at ca. 2.05 ​Ga. Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isotopes imply a mixed mantle-crustal origin for the samples in both units. A complete Palaeoproterozoic orogenic cycle, from subduction to collision and collapse, is recorded in the Piedade Block and the Mantiqueira Complex. Rhyacian to Orosirian subduction processes (ca. 2.2–2.1 ​Ga) led to the generation of coeval (ca. 2.16 ​Ga) TTG suites and sanukitoids, followed by late (2.10–2.02 ​Ga) high-K granitoids that mark the collisional stage. The collisional accretion of the Mantiqueira Complex against the Piedade Block at 2.08–2.04 ​Ga is also recorded by granulite facies metamorphism in the latter terrane, along the Ponte Nova suture zone. The collisional stage was closely followed by the emplacement of within-plate tholeiites at ca. 2.04 ​Ga and by alkaline rocks (syenites and enriched basic rocks) at ca. 1.98 ​Ga, marking the transition to an extensional tectonic regime. The discovery of two episodes of TTG and sanukitoid magmatism, one during the Neoarchean in the Piedade Complex and another during the Rhyacian in the Mantiqueira Complex, indicates that the onset of subduction-related melting of metasomatized mantle was not restricted to Neoarchean times, as generally believed, but persisted much later into the Paleoproterozoic.

Late Paleoproterozoic granulite-facies metamorphism in the North Altyn Tagh area, southeastern Tarim craton: Pressure-temperature paths, zircon U-Pb ages, and tectonic implications

Abstract Granulite occupies the root of orogenic belts, and understanding its formation and evolution may provide critical information on orogenic processes. Previous studies have mainly focused on garnet-bearing high-pressure and medium-pressure granulites, whereas the metamorphic evolution and pressure-temperature (P-T) paths of garnet-absent, low-pressure granulites are more difficult to constrain. Here, we present zircon U-Pb ages and mineral chemistry for a suite of newly discovered two-pyroxene granulites in the North Altyn Tagh area, southeastern Tarim craton, northwestern China. Conventional geothermobarometry and phase equilibrium modeling revealed that these rocks experienced a peak granulite-facies metamorphism at T = 790–890 °C and P = 8–11 kbar. The mineral compositions and retrograde symplectites record a clockwise cooling and exhumation path, possibly involving near-isothermal decompression followed by near-isobaric cooling. Zircon U-Pb dating yielded a ca. 1.97 Ga metamorphic age, which likely represents the initial cooling age, based on Ti-in-zircon thermometry. Combined with regional geological records, we interpret that these granulites originated from the basement rocks of a late Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc that was subsequently involved in a collisional orogen in the southern Tarim craton, presumably related to the assembly of the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent. The clockwise P-T paths of the granulites record crustal thickening and burial followed by crustal thinning and exhumation in the upper plate of the collisional orogen. Our data indicate that the initial exhumation of this orogen probably occurred no later than ca. 1.97 Ga, which is supported by widespread 1.93–1.85 Ga postorogenic magmatism in this area.

Isotopic and geochemical characterization of the metavolcano-sedimentary rocks of the Jirau do Ponciano Dome: A structural window to a Paleoproterozoic continental arc root within the Southern Borborema Province, Northeast Brazil

The Sergipano Fold Belt is a Neoproterozoic orogen exposed in the southern Borborema Province (Northeast Brazil), which is interpreted as the result of the oblique convergence process between the São Francisco-Congo block and smaller crustal fragments. The Nicolau-Campo Grande Complex is the metavolcanic-sedimentary portion of the Jirau do Ponciano Dome, an important basement inlier within this collisional belt. Whole-rock-geochemical major and trace-element data of major and trace elements from the metavolcanic rocks of the Nicolau-Campo Grande Complex indicate basaltic-andesite, andesitic, rhyodacitic, and rhyolitic compositions. Rare earth element and trace elements show the typical signature of magmatic arc rocks with negative Nb, Ta, P, and Ti anomalies. New U-Pb zircon data from amphibolite and hornblende-biotite paragneiss samples from the complex confirm the existence of a Paleoproterozoic zircon population of a Paleoproterozoic age of approximately ca. 2054 Ma with Archean inheritance ranging in age between 2779 and 3324 Ma. A maximum sedimentation age of 2028 Ma is constrained by the youngest zircon grain in the hornblende-biotite paragneiss. Zircon U-Pb data from the metarhyolite and rhyodacites indicate Paleoproterozoic ages of ca. 2061 and 2074 Ma, respectively, interpreted as their crystallization age. Nd isotopic data in the metarhyolite and rhyodacites indicate Nd TDM ages between 2.54 and 3.07 Ga and 87Sr/86Sr (2061Ma) values from 0.71396 to 0.72351. Based on these data, we suggest that the probable source area of the metavolcanic-sedimentary complex is a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc that was exhumed and covered by the paleobasins of the Macururé Domain in the northeast portion of the Sergipano Fold Belt.

Petrogenesis of metaultramafic rocks from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero and adjacent terrains, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Two events of ultramafic magmatism?

In the worldwide known Quadrilátero Ferrífero and the adjacent terrains, southeastern Brazil, many serpentinite and soapstone quarries, and some rare bodies of metaultramafic rocks that partially preserve minerals or textures from the original igneous protolith can be found. It is not known if the protoliths and the ages of the metaultramafic rocks found in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (and its oriental basement) and Mineiro Belt regions are the same or if they represent distinct magmatic episodes. The petrogenetic investigation, specially concerning the REE contents, aimed to gather informations about the type of magmatism and the mantle source in order to compare the metaultramafic rocks of both regions. The interpretation of the data concerning petrography, mineral chemistry and geochemistry shows that the metaultramafic rocks are similar to komatiitic peridotites, with MgO contents > 22 wt % and TiO2 < 0.9 wt %. The plot of the REE for the lithotypes found in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero shows decrease in LREE possibly reflecting the depletion of the mantle source. On the other hand the samples from the Mineiro Belt are enriched in LREE suggesting a mantle source enriched in these elements. This enrichment may have been caused by mantle metassomatism that occurred during accretion of the Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc that generated the Mineiro belt. In this paper, we therefore suggest two periods of ultramafic magmatism. The first one found in the Archean basement of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, with a depleted mantle source. The second occurred in the Paleoproterozoic basement of the Mineiro belt, having a metassomatized mantle as source.

The structure of the Amazonian craton: Available geophysical evidence

The Amazonian craton, which covers a large area of South America, and is thought to have been stable since the end of the Mesoproterozoic, has recently benefited from a series of regional geophysical surveys. The Amazonian craton comprises the northern Guyana shield and the southern Central Brazil shield. It has become the main subject of seismological studies aiming to determine crustal thickness. Moho thickness maps that cover a large part of the South American continent summarize these studies. Receiver function studies, aided by surface wave dispersion tomography, were also useful tools applied in the region over the past decade. These have been improved by the addition of temporary and permanent regional seismological arrays and stations. An interesting NNW-SSE Moho depth anomaly, pointing to crustal thickening of up to 60 km in the central Guyana shield and a 50 km thick anomaly of the southern Central Brazil shield were recently identified. Areas with crustal thickening correspond to Paleoproterozoic magmatic arcs. The upper mantle seismic anisotropy in part of the region has been determined from SKS splitting studies. The currently available seismic anisotropy information shows that the orientation of the determined anisotropic axis is related to the frozen in anisotropy hypothesis for the Amazonian craton. The orientation of the anisotropic axis shows no relation to the current South American plate motion in the Amazonian craton. Most recently, detailed information for the two shields has benefited from a series of high-resolution, regional aerogeophysical surveys, made available by CPRM, the Brazilian Geological Survey. In addition to the mentioned contribution from seismology for imaging deeper crustal structures, regional gravity surveys have been expanded, adding to previous Bouguer anomaly maps, and deep drilling information from early exploration efforts have been compiled for the Amazon basin, which covers the Amazonian craton separating the Guyana and Central Brazil shields.

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope of gneissic rocks from the Huai’an Complex: Implications for crustal accretion and tectonic evolution in the northern margin of the North China Craton

The Precambrian tectonic evolution of the North China Craton (NCC) has long been a matter of debate. The Huai’an Complex, situated at the conjunction of the Khondalite Belt and Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), undoubtedly can provide some key constraints on the geological evolution of the Khondalite Belt and the TNCO. We report zircon U–Pb ages and Hf-isotope results for four gneissic rocks and one Mesozoic mafic dyke in the Huai’an Complex to constrain the Precambrian tectonothermal evolution and crustal accretion in the northern margin of the NCC. The zircons from three dioritic to granitic gneisses and inherited zircons from the mafic dyke all yield Neoarchean to early Paleoproterozoic protolith ages of 2445–2533Ma, and register three later tectonomagmatic events with ages of ∼2360, ∼2150 and ∼1850Ma. The ∼2360Ma magmatism is recorded by a dioritic gneiss (2358±34Ma) from the Dongyanghe area and a granodioritic gneiss (2370±24Ma) from the Hunyuanyao area. The ∼2150Ma magmatism is recognized in a dioritic gneiss (2172±7Ma), granodioritic gneiss (2159±63Ma) and the Mesozoic mafic dyke (2144±57Ma). The ∼1850Ma magmatism is represented by zircon populations with ages of 1877±48Ma in the dioritic gneiss, 1844±69Ma in the granodioritic gneiss and ∼1800Ma in the mafic dyke. These Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic ages reveal that the Huai’an Complex underwent a successive, complicated tectonomagmatic evolution, similar to the Hengshan–Wutai–Fuping Complexes, which represent a long-lived Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc. In contrast, a sillimanite–garnet gneiss from the Kouzicun area yields completely different zircon U–Pb ages with peaks at 2056±32Ma, 1952±25Ma and 1901±25Ma. These three age groups suggest that the Kouzicun area experienced a tectonothermal evolution diagnostic of the Khondalite Belt, including protolith ages (2100–2000Ma), peak metamorphism (∼1950Ma) and post-orogenic exhumation (∼1900Ma). Thus, the geological boundary between the Khondalite Belt and the TNCO can be constrained to a position between the Kouzicun and Hunyuanyao areas. Coupled with zircon U–Pb ages, zircon Hf isotopic results reveal that ∼2500Ma mantle-derived mafic magmas not only provided enormous heat for partial melting of the 2.7–2.8Ga juvenile crust to form widespread TTG rocks, but also contributed directly to the generation of dioritic rocks. The Huai’an Complex in the northern margin of the NCC witnessed two Neoarchean episodes of continental-crust growth at 2.7–2.8Ga and at 2.5Ga.

Fault reconstructions using aeromagnetic data in the Great Bear magmatic zone, Northwest Territories, Canada

The Great Bear magmatic zone, located in Wopmay orogen, is a 1.875–1.84 Ga belt, 450 km long by 100 km wide of volcanic and allied plutonic rocks interpreted as a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc. The belt, which contains economically important mineralization, was folded and subsequently cut by a swarm of northeast-striking transcurrent faults, which are part of a regional conjugate fault system interpreted to result from terminal collision of the Nahanni – Fort Simpson terrane. Fault reconstructions based on the interpretation of aeromagnetic data and geological maps provide first-order models of deformation mechanisms associated with, and the configuration of the Great Bear magmatic zone prior to, its dissection by northeast-striking transcurrent faults. The models show that vertical axis block rotation (plane strain) of ∼4.5° can explain fault offsets in the south, but that greater rotation is required to explain many of the displacements in the north. However, offsets on transcurrent faults that border the Camsell River district are greater than can be explained by vertical axis block rotation model alone and may include a component of Mesoproterozoic contractional deformation associated with the Racklan–Forward orogeny. Following reconstruction, iron oxide alkali alteration and associated mineralization, which pre-date transcurrent faulting, form a pair of northerly trending zones on the east and west margins of the belt. We suggest that these zones, whose exposure is related to broad synclinal folding of some of the oldest rocks in the Great Bear magmatic zone, are where iron oxide copper–gold (IOCG)-targeted exploration efforts should be focused on these areas in both outcrop and subcrop.

Re-Os Molybdenite, Pyrite, and Chalcopyrite Geochronology, Lupa Goldfield, Southwestern Tanzania: Tracing Metallogenic Time Scales at Midcrustal Shear Zones Hosting Orogenic Au Deposits

A detailed Re-Os molybdenite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite geochronology at five shear-hosted Au occurrences (Kenge, Mbenge, Porcupine, Konokono, and Dubwana) in the Lupa goldfield, southwestern Tanzania, is reported in this paper. Au occurrences within the Lupa goldfield share many geologic similarities with the orogenic Au deposit type and are situated within a Paleoproterozoic magmatic arc that intruded the Archean Tanzanian cratonic margin. Pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± molybdenite-bearing fault-fill veins and mylonitic shear zones crosscut granitic host rocks and are associated with the highest Au grades. Re-Os sulfide ages are deemed a suitable proxy to constrain the timing of Au based on the occurrence of Au-bearing minerals as inclusions within pyrite and chalcopyrite, whereas Au-bearing minerals filling pyrite fractures may represent a younger and undated metallogenic event. Molybdenite at Kenge occurs as ultrafine disseminations within fault-fill veins (1953 ± 6 Ma; n = 3) that possess nominally older weighted average Re-Os ages than molybdenite hosted by stylolite-like veins (1937 ± 8 Ma; n = 7). Both sample sets are ca. 70 m.y. older than a weighted average Re-Os pyrite age from the mylonitic shear zones at Kenge and Mbenge (1876 ± 10 Ma; n = 13), which contain fault-fill veins and record the timing of mylonitization. Molybdenite at Porcupine occurs as ultrafine disseminations within quartz veins and mylonitized granite samples (1886 ± 6 Ma; n = 4) that are broadly equivalent in age to weighted average Re-Os ages of molybdenite occurring as stylolite-like veins (1873 ± 5 Ma; n = 6) and pyrite within oblique-extension veins (1894 ± 45 Ma; n = 2). Weighted average Re-Os pyrite model ages at Konokono (1880 ± 14 Ma; n = 9) and Dubwana (1905 ± 25 Ma; n = 2) are also consistent with the ca. 1.88 Ga event observed at Kenge, Mbenge, and Porcupine. Gold occurrences in the Lupa goldfield therefore record a protracted hydrothermal history (1.95–1.87 Ga) comprising at least three temporally distinct hydrothermal events (ca. 1.95, 1.94, and 1.88 Ga), which are each represented in detail by a complex vein history that occurred at a time scale less than the resolution of the Re-Os method. The sampling of broadly contemporaneous sulfides from five shear zones suggest that mylonitic shear zones represented an interconnected network of midcrustal permeable fluid conduits at ca. 1.88 Ga that permitted the transportation and deposition of gold. Comparison between Re-Os sulfide and high-precision U-Pb zircon ages for the granitic host rocks provides unequivocal evidence for sulfidation concomitant with magmatism. However, the range of Re-Os ages argues against an intrusion-related deposit model whereby metallogenic fluids are solely derived from an individual intrusion. The regional ca. 1.88 Ga metallogenic event identified as part of this study occurred concurrently with eclogite facies metamorphism during the Ubendian orogenic cycle and provides one of Earth’s earliest temporal links between subduction zone processes and orogenic Au deposit formation during the Paleoproterozoic.

Geochemistry of Jamari complex, central-eastern Rondônia: Andean-type magmatic arc and Paleoproterozoic crustal growth of the southwestern Amazonian Craton, Brazil

The Jamari complex (gabbro-diorite-tonalite/enderbite-granodiorite/charnoenderbite) represents a Paleoproterozoic (ca. 1.76–1.74 Ga) magmatic arc emplaced along the southwestern Amazonian Craton in central-eastern Rondônia, Brazil. Comprising metaplutonic and metasedimentary rocks, the Jamari complex constitutes the polydeformed Paleoproterozoic basement of Rondônia state. Together with regional data from the Rondônia-Juruena Province, our findings suggest that the southwestern border of the Amazonian Craton was the site of magmatic arc evolution from at least ca. 1.78 to 1.63 Ga. Elemental geochemical data show that intermediate/acid orthogneisses are metaluminous to mildly peraluminous, and have a medium to high-K, calc-alkaline signature, suggesting that they were formed in an immature Andean-type magmatic arc. Gabbros have signatures similar to tholeiites of active continental margin and diorites show characteristics compatible with rocks of tholeiite/calc-alkaline active continental margin volcanic arc. The chemical data of the Jamari complex felsic plutonic rocks show general trends of increasing contents of incompatible elements (K2O, Rb, Nb, Th, La, Ba and Sr) and decreasing contents of compatible elements (Ni, V, Sc, MgO, Fe2O3, Al2O3, CaO and TiO2) with increasing SiO2. Although these variations are consistent with closed system fractional crystallization processes, the wide variation of Rb/Zr, La/Sm, K/Rb, Nb/Y, Th/Y and Th/Yb in the felsic rocks may indicate random crustal contamination during the evolution of these rocks. Normalized trace element patterns show enrichment in LILEs (Rb, Ba, K, Th and Ce) relative to HFSEs (Nb, Zr, P and Ti) and are very similar to calc-alkaline subduction-related rocks from orogenic belts. The Jamari complex represents the western extension of similar metaplutonic rocks (Juruena Complex, Mato Grosso), occurring along some 500 km of the Paleoproterozoic Madeirinha orogen (1.78–1.63 Ga). During this event the rocks were metamorphosed under upper amphibolite to granulite facies conditions that only mildly disturbed their igneous characteristics. Zircon U–Pb crystallization ages (ID-TIMS, SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS) set the acretional phase of the magmatic arc in Rondônia between 1.76 and 1.74 Ga. Metamorphic mineral paragenesis and textural features in these rocks, combined with geochronologic data, indicate that metamorphic conditions in the study area reached the granulite facies (T = ca. 750–800 °C, P = 7 to 8 kbar) in a tectonothermal collisional event that occurred between 1.67 and 1.63 Ga. The Jamari complex in this region was subsequently reworked during the Rondonian-San Ignácio Orogeny (1.50–1.30 Ga), a tectonic episode characterized by crytical metamorphic mineral assemblages and anatexis, suggesting upper-amphibolite-facies metamorphism. The youngest tectonic event recognized in the Jamari complex is associated with tectonic reactivation, deformation, thermal overprint, and magmatism related to the Sunsás Orogeny (1.30–0.95 Ga). Its effects are represented by extensive development of shear zones (Ji-Paraná system), mylonitic belts, rifts and sedimentary deposits, and post-collisional A-type intrusions. Nd isotopic data of the high-grade orthogneisses show a wide range of εNd values (−1.5 to +5.6) and a wide spectrum of TDM model-ages, from 1.79 to 2.2 Ga. These values demonstrate that the crustal generation processes involved juvenile mantle sources and variable proportions of older recycled crust.

Caracterização estrutural e petrológica do magmatismo pré-colisional do Escudo Sul-rio-grandense: os ortognaisses do Complexo Metamórfico Várzea do Capivarita

O Complexo Metamórfico Várzea do Capivarita situa-se na região de Encruzilhada do Sul, RS, e faz parte do Escudo Sul-rio-grandense (ESRG). Congrega rochas ortometamórficas de composição tonalítica, além de paragnaisses pelíticos e calciossilicáticos. Orto e paragnaisses são intercalados em fatias de 3 a 4m de espessura média e apresentam paragêneses e microestruturas compatíveis com metamorfismo de fácies granulito. A abordagem integrada de geologia de campo, geologia estrutural e petrografia permitiu discutir a história evolutiva do Complexo. Para a investigação dos ortognaisses foram obtidos também dados geoquímicos de elementos maiores e traços, o que tornou possível estabelecer as características do magmatismo gerador de seu protólito. As rochas do Complexo possuem bandamento de direção preferencial NNW e mergulho variável, para ENE e WSW, contendo lineação de estiramento geralmente de alta obliquidade. A atitude original do bandamento, retirados os efeitos de dobras, é interpretada como suborizontal. O empilhamento de sequências de composição e ambientes de formação distintos ao longo de estruturas originalmente suborizontais indica um regime tectônico do tipo cavalgamento, e o registro de paragêneses de alto grau orientadas segundo o bandamento em todos os tipos litológicos sugere que esta tectônica ocorreu em condições de fácies granulito. Os gnaisses tonalíticos são meta a peraluminosos e pertencem à série cálcio-alcalina. Sua composição e padrões de elementos traços sugerem que representam um magmatismo de arco continental, correlacionável ao Complexo Encantadas, uma associação de arco magmático paleoproterozóica do ESRG. Deste modo, os ortognaisses estudados, por sua similaridade composicional e estratigráfica com o Complexo Encantadas, são interpretados como parte do mesmo magmatismo de margem continental ativa. Presume-se que o metamorfismo de fácies granulito tem idade neoproterozóica e teria sido contemporâneo à tectônica de empurrão responsável por justapor litologias de idade e origem diversa, gerando o Complexo.