Southwestern Tianshan Research Articles

Late Cenozoic evolution in the Pamir-Tian Shan convergence: New chronological constraints from the magnetostratigraphic record of the southwestern Tianshan foreland basin (Ulugqat area)

The northeastern Pamir-Tian Shan convergence zone is a key region for understanding ongoing intracontinental mountain building. A detailed magnetostratigraphic study combined with color reflectance variations of continental sediments from the 1120m-thick Sankeshu Section in the south west sector of the Tianshan Foreland Basin of western China yields important insights into the tectonic evolution of this zone. Correlation with the geomagnetic polarity time scale identifies deposition lasting from 16.7 to 2.6Ma with a marked increase in sedimentation rate at ~7Ma. A further rapid increase occurred after 2.6Ma with influx of the conglomeratic Xiyu Formation. Observed height-dependent changes of rock magnetic parameters (shape parameter T and AMS ellipsoid parameters) show that these sediments were influenced by weak deformation, with the sediments accumulated before ~11Ma recording a signature of compressive deformation from northward indentation by the Pamir. The succession of sedimentary events in the foreland basin is comparable to previous investigations of magnetostratigraphic and sedimentological analyses, and with thermochronology collectively showing that deformation in the Tian Shan region has been concentrated in Miocene and later times. The regional correlations resulting from these analyses show that sedimentary events correlate with the episodic nature of regional uplift with the latter inducing climatic changes that are in turn recorded in the sediment record.

Phase equilibria modelling using major and trace element compositions of zoned garnet and clinopyroxene from southwestern Tianshan eclogites, China

We present major and trace element zoning in clinopyroxene and garnet in the low-temperature eclogites from southwestern Tianshan ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt. The clinopyroxene crystals in the matrix exhibit three distinct growth zones, including the aegirine-rich core, a transition mantle and the omphacite rim. The aegirine core has weak Ce anomaly, flat light rare earth element pattern, and slightly enriched heavy rare earth element contents. The omphacite rim has lower trace element contents, and is depleted in large-ion lithospheric elements, light and heavy rare earth elements. The garnet zonation is featured by the core-to-rim increase in pyrope and grossular contents, and distinct rare earth element patterns: the core has left-leaning rare earth element patterns and the rim is depleted in both light and heavy rare earth elements. Phase equilibria modelling based on the phase assemblage and mineral zoning patterns reveal that the aegirine eclogite was heated and buried along the ca. 8°C/km geotherm in the cold subduction zone, and reached the peak metamorphic condition of 23–25kbar, 540–560°C. The jadeite content in the clinopyroxene increases along the prograde-to-exhumation P-T path (Jd: from 0.25 to 0.45), with the transitional mantle corresponds to the peak conditions. The omphacite rim with the highest jadeite content (Jd∼45) formed during decompression. For a Fe3+-rich clinopyroxene, the maximum in Jd component does not necessarily represent the peak pressure, so the conventional thermobarometers should be used with caution for mineral assemblages with such complicated zonation patterns. The variation of oxygen fugacity correlates with the changes in mineral assemblage, P-T condition, and the bulk-rock Fe3+/FeT ratio. The oxygen fugacity is not always positively correlated with the Fe3+/(Fe3++Al) or Fe3+/FeT ratio in clinopyroxene. Rare earth element zoning garnet and clinopyroxene are modelled based on mass balance. The modelled growth zonation closely resembles the observed compositional profiles, suggesting that rare earth elements are passively distributed among phases near chemical equilibrium during the mineral growth.

Relic Oceanic Crust at Sub‐Arc Depth: An Example from UHP Eclogites Enclosed in Serpentinites from the Southwestern Tianshan, China

Ultra‐high pressure (UHP) eclogites that derive from subducted oceanic crust are rarely found at the Earth's surface because they need to be enclosed in a buoyant host rock such as serpentinites that facilitate exhumation (Hermann et al., 2000; Guillot et al., 2001). Under normal subduction geotherms, serpentinites break down just before UHP conditions are reached and therefore most of the exhumed eclogites representing subducted oceanic crust formed under fore‐arc conditions. We investigated eclogite blocks enclosed into serpentinites that occur in the southwestern Tianshan oceanic subduction, China. A previous study proved that the serpentinites derive from altered oceanic crust and experienced UHP metamorphism at low temperatures of 510–530°C (Shen et al., 2015).Three relatively fresh eclogite samples were studied in detail. Sample 129–7 shows the retrograde mineral assemblage of amphibole + biotite + albite + chlorite + minor titanite and peak metamorphic relics of omphacite + garnet ± chlorite. Sample C107‐23 is mainly composed of amphibole + albite + chlorite + zoisite + muscovite + minor titanite as a retrograde assemblage and garnet + phengite as the peak metamorphic relics with omphacite only found as inclusions in garnet. Similar to sample C107‐23, sample C11066 preserves large‐grained euhedral to subhedral garnet relics with omphacite inclusions, and epidote, diopside, amphibole, muscovite, chlorite, albite and biotite are in the matrix belong to the retrograde assemblage. These three retrograde eclogite samples were modelled using thermodynamic calculations in the MnNCKFMSHO (MnO‐Na2O‐CaO‐K2O‐FeO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2‐H2O‐Fe2O3) system. Based on the peak assemblage of omphacite+garnet and the crossing of the grossular and pyrope isopleths in garnet, peak P‐T conditions of ∼460–470 °C, 28–29 kbar (129–7), 450–500 °C, 28–35 kbar (C107–23), ∼475–505 °C, 26–29 kbar (C11066) were calculated. The retrograde assemblages indicate near isothermal decompression resulting in a clockwise P‐T evolution of these eclogites. The peak metamorphic pressures at 500°C are well within UHP conditions (coesite stability field) and are within error the same as peak conditions of the host serpentinites (Shen et al., 2015). This provides evidence that eclogites and serpentinites shared the same evolution. We infer that the subducted low‐density serpentinites were assembled with the high‐density eclogites during subdution and helped the latter to exhume back to the surface. The studied eclogites thus represent rare examples of relics of oceanic crust that was subducted to sub‐arc depth.

Subduction channel fluid–rock interaction and mass transfer: Constraints from a retrograde vein in blueschist (SW Tianshan, China)

One widely neglected part of the subduction zone fluid cycle is the retrograde fluid flow along the plate interface. This fluid flow may facilitate the exhumation of slab-derived rocks within the subduction channel. However, our understanding on the nature and behavior of these retrograde fluids is still insufficient. Retrograde veins preserved in HP–UHP rocks can provide valuable information about fluid activities and mass transfer at the plate interface and exhumation processes. In this study, we present a petrological and geochemical investigation of a typical retrograde vein and its blueschist host rock, which occurs throughout the whole Akeyazi (U)HP terrane in the Chinese southwestern Tianshan. The magnetite-bearing albite–calcite vein, representing an external fluid pathway, crosscuts the host blueschist that mainly consists of glaucophane, garnet, epidote and titanite. Along the fluid conduit the immediate wall-rock experienced greenschist-facies overprinting as displayed by an albite-rich selvage that grades into a chlorite–biotite selvage towards the host rock. The replacements of garnet by chlorite and glaucophane by albite are thought to have occurred due to an interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation mechanism. Mass balance calculations show that during fluid–rock interaction large amounts of LILE (K–Rb–Ba–Cs and Pb), Cu and CO2 were added to the selvages (mass gain >200%), whereas the altered wall-rock released significant amounts of Ca, Li, Sr, REE and transition metal elements (V–Mn–Co–Ni–Zn) (mass loss mainly between 40 and 100%) due to the dissolution of glaucophane, garnet and epidote. The chlorite–biotite selvage experienced additional SiO2 and Na2O mass losses as well as FeO, MgO and H2O mass gains, whereas the albite-rich selvage underwent exactly the opposite mass transfer with respect to these components. The Al, Ti, Nb, Ta and Cr contents were constant during the alteration. Therefore, the retrograde fluid causing greenschist-facies overprinting of the blueschist host in the subduction channel (at ca. 30km depth) is proposed to be oxidized and enriched in LILE, Cu and CO2 components, whereas Ca, Li, Sr, REE, Y and transition metal elements (V–Mn–Co–Ni–Zn) are thought to have been mobilized during fluid-rock interaction. In addition, the main fluid sources (sediments, oceanic crust or serpentinites) diversely contribute to retrograde fluids at different depths in the subduction channel.

P–T–time-isotopic evolution of coesite-bearing eclogites: Implications for exhumation processes in SW Tianshan

The Chinese Southwestern Tianshan high- to ultra-high pressure low temperature (HP–UHP/LT) metamorphic belt exhibits well-preserved mafic layers, tectonic blocks/slices and boudins of different sizes and lithology embedded within dominant meta-volcanosedimentary rocks. Despite a wealth of previous studies on UHP relicts, P–T path estimates and age constraints for metamorphism, controversies still exist on P–T–t assessments and regional exhumation patterns (i.e., tectonic mélange versus internally coherent “sub-belt” model). This study focuses on a group of coesite-bearing eclogite samples from a thick (~5m) layered metabasalt outcrop in order to unravel its detailed tectono-metamorphic evolution through space and time (both prograde, peak and exhumation). Using SIMS zircon U–Pb and oxygen isotope analyses, TIMS Sm–Nd multi-point isochron dating, in situ laser-ICP-MS trace-element analyses, classical thermobarometry and thermodynamic modeling, we link the multistage zircon growth to garnet growth and reconstruct a detailed P–T–time-isotopic evolution history for this UHP tectonic slice: from UHP peak burial ~2.95±0.2GPa, 510±20°C around 318.0±2.3Ma to HP peak metamorphism ~2.45±0.2GPa, 540±20°C at 316.8±0.8Ma, then, with eclogite-facies deformation ~2.0±0.15GPa, 525±25°C at 312±2.5Ma, exhumed to near surface within ca. 303 to ca. 280Ma. Our P–T-time-isotopic results combined with the compilation of regional radiometric data and P–T estimates notably point to the existence of a short-lived period of rock detachment and exhumation (<10Ma, i.e. at ca. 315±5Ma) with respect to subduction duration.

A subduction channel model for exhumation of oceanic-type high-pressure to ultrahigh-pressure eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks in SW Tianshan, China

High-pressure (H P ) and ultrahigh-pressure (UH P ) eclogites exposed in collisional orogens are widely regarded to record the history of crustal rocks that were subducted to mantle depths and exhumed back to the surface. Insight into subduction and exhumation processes plays an important role in understanding the nature and evolution of subduction zones, geodynamics and plate tectonics. In contrast to continental-type H P to UH P metamorphic rocks that are dominated by felsic lithology, oceanic-type H P to UH P metamorphic rocks are dominated by mafic eclogites and thus have greater density, and their exhumation needs to overcome large barriers and may involve complicated tectonic processes. The exhumation of H P to UH P rocks is mainly influenced by the internal buoyancy, however, the external tectonic forces (such as channel flow) also act as effective exhumation drivers; in addition, effects of tectonic settings (such as slab rollback and breakoff) should take into account. The H P -UH P metamorphic terrane in Southwestern Tianshan, which mainly comprises of metasediments with interlayered metamafic lenses and blocks, represents a typical accretionary melange associated with deep subduction of oceanic crust. However, the exhumation mechanisms of these once deeply buried H P -UH P rocks are still under discussion. Based on the field occurrences, petrographic features, peak metamorphic P-T conditions and ages of the eclogites/blueschists and their metasedimentary country rocks, a “sediment-type subduction channel” model is advocated in this study to appraise/decipher the formation and evolution of Southwestern Tianshan H P -UH P metamorphic belt. Poly-cyclic metamorphic eclogites record the multistage burial-exhumation cycling manipulated by convective flow in a channel-like interface between the plates, giving robust evidence for the presence of a subduction channel. In addition, this study summarizes some remaining geotectonic problems and research perspectives concerning the Southwestern Tianshan H P -UH P metamorphic belt.

Relic Oceanic Crust at Sub‐arc Depth: an Example from UHP Eclogites Enclosed in Serpentinites from the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, China

Relic Oceanic Crust at Sub‐arc Depth: an Example from UHP Eclogites Enclosed in Serpentinites from the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, China

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of Permian post-collisional granitoids in the Chinese southwestern Tianshan, NW China

Permian porphyritic granite and leucogranite from the Kekesu and Muzhaerte Valleys in the southwestern (SW) Tianshan orogenic belt, NW China have been studied to decipher their petrogenesis and tectonic implications. For porphyritic granite in the Kekesu Valley, in situ LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating yields crystallization ages of 295–291Ma. The granite is a high potassic calc-alkaline, slightly peraluminous type, enriched in large ion lithosphere elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), but depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE). Zircon Hf isotopic analysis (zircon εHf(t) of −5.8 to −0.2, two-stage Hf model ages of 1323–1680Ma) and Ti-in-zircon thermometry, which yields crystallization temperatures of 744–749°C, indicate the parent magma was likely formed by partial melting of a Mesoproterozoic crustal source. By contrast, leucogranite in the Kekesu valley yields crystallization ages of 274–267Ma. It contains muscovite and garnet, has high silicon and potassium, and is strongly peraluminous. Multiple inherited zircon cores and low zircon crystallization temperatures (687–701°C), combined with negative zircon εHf(t) values (−7.0 to −4.0), indicate its parent magma was sourced from supracrustal metasedimentary rocks by muscovite–breakdown partial melting. In the Muzhaerte Valley, porphyritic granite has similar major and trace elements characteristics to the Kekesu porphyritic granite. However, its higher zircon εHf(t) values (−0.9 to +3.8) and corresponding lower two-stage Hf model ages (1070–1367Ma) indicate that the parent magma likely included an input from a more juvenile mantle source. Ti-in-zircon thermometry gives lower crystallization temperature of ∼705°C. The intrusive relationships between the Permian granitoids and Paleozoic arc plutons, and the LP-HT and (U)HP metamorphic belts, combined with geochronological studies, suggest that these Permian granitoids were generated in a post-collisional environment. It is suggested that the formation of the porphyritic granites in the Kekesu and Muzhaerte Valleys could be related to slab breakoff, while the leucogranite could be formed by hydrate-breakdown melting in an extensional tectonic regime in response to intra-continental adjustments after collision.

In-situ U–Pb dating and Nd isotopic analysis of perovskite from a rodingite blackwall associated with UHP serpentinite from southwestern Tianshan, China

Metamorphic perovskite associated with diopside+chlorite occurs in blackwalls surrounding rodingitized mafic dikes that are included in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) serpentinized ultramafic rocks from Changawuzi, Chinese southwestern Tianshan. Perovskite forms discrete crystals in the chlorite-rich matrix or appears at the rim of ilmenite. The metamorphic perovskites from the blackwalls are characterized by high concentrations of REE, Nb, Ta, Th and U. The primitive mantle normalized patterns of perovskite are two to three orders of magnitude higher but parallel to the bulk rock patterns, demonstrating that perovskite is a major host of these incompatible trace elements in the ultramafic rocks. The bulk-rock major and trace element compositions of rodingite dikes and associated blackwalls display variable patterns, consistent with different mafic protoliths of the rodingites.Perovskites from three samples were analysed for U–Pb by in-situ secondary ion mass spectrometry. Two samples contained essentially common Pb whereas one sample had enough radiogenic Pb to define a discordia in the Tera–Wasserburg diagram with an age intercept of 317±11Ma. If all analyses are pooled together, a 238U–206Pb age of 308±5 Ma is obtained. These ages are in agreement with the age of peak UHP metamorphism in Chinese southwestern Tianshan. In-situ Nd isotopes of perovskite from the three samples were obtained by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The ɛNd(t)310 of two samples are 8.37±0.14 and 7.88±0.25, respectively, which suggests that they have similar protoliths. These samples plot close to a 310Ma Sm–Nd isochron. In contrast, the third sample has a different ɛNd(t)310 of 0.90±0.51, indicating a completely different protolith. Thus, in-situ analyses of perovskite can provide important information on the protolith as well as the metamorphic evolution of reaction zones between mafic and ultramafic rocks.

Nb–Ta mobility and fractionation during exhumation of UHP eclogite from southwestern Tianshan, China

In order to study the behavior of high field strength elements (HFSE) during retrograde overprint of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) eclogites, analysis of Nb and Ta concentrations was carried out on bulk rock, rutile (in both veins and host rocks) and titanite in the host eclogite. The studied samples were collected from the UHP metamorphic belt of southwestern Tianshan, China. Petrographic observation and phase equilibria modeling show that the host eclogites have experienced UHP metamorphism and the rutile-bearing veins are thought to be originated from an internal fluid source, probably by lawsonite dehydration during exhumation. The presence of vein rutile indicates HFSE could be mobilized from host eclogites to veins, which is probably facilitated by complexation with dissolved Na–Al silicates and fluorine-rich fluids. Changes in fluid composition (e.g., F−1, X(CO2)) may trigger the precipitation of rutile. Rutile/fluid partitioning may be the key to fractionating Nb and Ta, with preference for Ta in the fluid, resulting in Nb/Ta ratio of rutile in the veins lower than that in the host eclogite. Besides, the transformation of rutile into titanite also might be an effective mechanism for fractionating Nb from Ta, resulting in the intra-grain Nb–Ta zonations in vein rutile. The Nb–Ta mobility and fractionation can happen during exhumation of the UHP eclogite, which should be very important for understanding the behavior of HFSE in subduction zone metamorphism.

Late Palaeozoic 40Ar/39Ar ages of the HP-LT metamorphic rocks from the Kekesu Valley, Chinese southwestern Tianshan: new constraints on exhumation tectonics

abstractAlthough numerous ages have been obtained for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan high pressure/ultrahigh pressure-low temperature (HP/UHP-LT) metamorphic belt in the past two decades, its exhumation history is still controversial. The poor age constraint was related to the appealing low metamorphic temperatures and excess Ar commonly present under HP/UHP conditions. This study aims to provide new age constraints on the orogen’s exhumation by obtaining 40Ar/39Ar mica ages using the conventional step-heating technique, with emphasis on the avoidance of excess Ar contamination. From a cross section along the Kekesu Valley, four samples, three from the HP-LT metamorphic belt (TK050, TK051, and TK081) and one from the southern margin of the low pressure metamorphic belt (TK097), were selected for 40Ar/39Ar dating. Phengites from garnet glaucophane schist TK050 and the surrounding rock garnet phengite schist TK051 yield comparable plateau ages of 321.4 ± 1.6 and 318.6 ± 1.6 Ma, respectively, while epidote mica schist TK081 gives a younger plateau age of 293.3 ± 1.5 Ma. Considering the chemical compositions of phengites, mineral assemblages, and microstructures in the thin slices, we suppose that the former represents the time the HP rocks retrograded from the peak stage (eclogite facies) to the (epidote)-blueschist facies, whereas the latter reflects greenschist facies overprinting. Biotite and muscovite from two-mica quartzite TK097 give similar plateau ages of 253.0 ± 1.3 and 247.1 ± 1.2 Ma, interpreted to date movement on the post collisional transcrustal South Nalati ductile shear zone. By combining our new ages with published data, a two-stage exhumation model is suggested for the Chinese southwestern Tianshan HP/UHP-LT metamorphic belt: initial fast exhumation to a depth of about 30–35 km by ~320 Ma was followed by relatively slow (~1 mm year–1) uplift to ~10 km by ~293 Ma.

UHP Metamorphism Documented in Ti-chondrodite- and Ti-clinohumite-bearing Serpentinized Ultramafic Rocks from Chinese Southwestern Tianshan

The southwestern Tianshan (China) metamorphic belt records high-pressure (HP) to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) conditions corresponding to a cold oceanic subduction-zone setting. Serpentinites enclosing retrogressed eclogite and rodingite occur as lenses within metapelites in the UHP unit, which also hosts coesite-bearing eclogites. Based on the petrology and petrography of these serpentinites, five events are recognized: (1) formation of a wehrlite–harzburgite–dunite association in the mantle; (2) retrograde metamorphism and partial hydration during exhumation of the mantle rocks close to the seafloor; (3) oceanic metamorphism leading to the first serpentinization and rodingitization; (4) UHP metamorphism during subduction; (5) retrograde metamorphism during exhumation together with a second serpentinization. The peak metamorphic mineral assemblage of the serpentinized wehrlite comprises Ti-chondrodite + olivine + antigorite + chlorite + magnetite + brucite. A computed pseudosection for this serpentinized wehrlite shows that the Al content in antigorite is mostly sensititive to temperature but can also be used to constrain pressure. The average XAl = 0·204 ± 0·026 of antigorite (XAl = Al (a.p.f.u.)/8, where Al is in atoms per formula unit for a structural formula M48T34O85(OH)62, and M and T are octahedral and tetrahedral sites, respectively) included in Ti-chondrodite and average XAl = 0·203 ± 0·019 of antigorite in the matrix result in a well-constrained peak metamorphic temperature of 510–530°C. Peak pressures are less precisely constrained at 37 ± 7 kbar. The Tianshan serpentinites thus record UHP metamorphic conditions and represent the deepest subducted serpentinites discovered so far. The retrograde evolution occurs within the stability field of brucite + antigorite + olivine + chlorite and formation of Ti-clinohumite at the expense of Ti-chondrodite has been observed, suggesting isothermal decompression. The resulting P–T path is in excellent agreement with the metamorphic evolution of country rocks, indicating that the UHP unit in Tianshan was subducted and exhumed as a coherent block. To refine the metamorphic path of the ultramafic rocks, we have investigated the stability fields of Ti-chondrodite and Ti-clinohumite using piston-cylinder experiments. A total of 11 experiments were conducted at 25–55 kbar and 600–750°C in a F-free natural system. Combined with previous experiments and information from natural rocks we constructed a petrogenetic grid for the stability of Ti-chondrodite and Ti-clinohumite in F-free peridotite compositions. The formation of Ti-chondrodite in serpentinites requires a minimum pressure of about 26 kbar, whereas in Ti-rich systems it can form at considerably lower pressures. A key finding is that at UHP conditions, F-free Ti-chondrodite or Ti-clinohumite breaks down in the presence of orthopyroxene between 700 and 750°C, at temperatures that are significantly lower than those of the terminal breakdown reactions of these humite minerals. These breakdown reactions are an additional source of fluid during prograde subduction of serpentinites.

Northward subduction-related orogenesis of the southern Altaids: Constraints from structural and metamorphic analysis of the HP/UHP accretionary complex in Chinese southwestern Tianshan, NW China

The Chinese Tianshan belt of the southern Altaids has undergone a complicated geological evolution. Different theories have been proposed to explain its evolution and these are still hotly debated. The major subduction polarity and the way of accretion are the main problems. Southward, northward subduction and multiple subduction models have been proposed. This study focuses on the structural geology of two of the main faults in the region, the South Tianshan Fault and the Nikolaev Line. The dip direction in the Muzhaerte valley is southward and lineations all point towards the NW. Two shear sense motions have been observed within both of these fault zones, a sinistral one, and a dextral one, the latter with an age of 236–251 Ma. Structural analyses on the fault zones show that subduction has been northward rather than southward. The two shear sense directions indicate that the Yili block was first dragged along towards the east due to the clockwise rotation of the Tarim block. After the Tarim block stopped rotating, the Yili block still kept going eastward, inducing the dextral shear senses within the fault zones.

Metamorphic evolution of ultrahigh-pressure rocks from Chinese southwestern Tianshan and a possible indicator of UHP metamorphism using garnet composition in low-T eclogites

How to identify ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphism in the absence of coesite is a key problem to gain the correct P–T history for an orogenic belt. In this study, garnet composition combined with the pseudosection approach was used to identify ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism and to determine P–T paths for eclogites and metapelites from Chinese southwestern Tianshan. Porphyroblastic garnets from both eclogites and metapelites develop pronounced chemical core-rim textures: the relatively homogeneous core with low pyrope [Prp; Mg/(Ca+Mn+Mg+Fe2+)×100] and grossular [Grs; Ca/(Ca+Mn+Mg+Fe2+)×100] content is overgrown by a thin rim with sharply increased Prp and Grs. Phase equilibria modeling indicates that the ultrahigh-pressure rocks have undergone a clockwise P–T path characterized by heating during early exhumation with peak P–T at 31–33kbar and 490–520°C. The P–T pseudosections for eclogites show that isopleths of Prp and Grs strongly depend on temperature and pressure, respectively, especially in the stability fields of glaucophane–lawsonite-bearing eclogite facies assemblages. This indicates that garnet composition provides robust thermobarometric constraints. Consequently, we propose a Prp–Grs diagram which is subdivided into a high-pressure region and an ultrahigh-pressure region by the quartz–coesite–transition curve. Those garnet compositions which fall into the ultrahigh-pressure region are regarded to have experienced ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism. This approach is expected to be a useful tool to qualitatively identify ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism for glaucophane–lawsonite-bearing eclogites and its particular strength is the quick examination of large datasets comprising samples with similar bulk composition. Using this method, garnet compositions of eclogites and mafic blueschists from Chinese southwestern Tianshan and lawsonite eclogites worldwide are plotted in the Prp–Grs diagram and several possible ultrahigh-pressure eclogite occurrences are newly identified.

A new P-T-t path of eclogites from Chinese southwestern Tianshan: constraints from P-T pseudosections and Sm-Nd isochron dating

Abstract The southwestern Tianshan orogenic belt hosts one of the Earth’s rare occurrences of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic rocks derived from subducted oceanic crust. To address its poorly constrained and controversial P-T-t evolution, for this study, three representative samples, two paragonite-epidote eclogites (H505-26 and H76-10) and one glaucophane-phengite eclogite (H711-1) are selected, and Sm-Nd geochronology and detailed phase equilibria modeling are combined. Garnet porphyroblasts from the three studied eclogites have well-preserved growth zoning with rim-ward increasing pyrope and decreasing spessartine contents. Phase equilibria modeling reveals that the investigated garnets grew in the lawsonite eclogite facies; in eclogite H505-26 during heating and burial, and in eclogites H76-10 and H711-1 during heating and decompression. Temperatures of 460–590 °C derived for the three eclogites are below the closure temperature of the Sm-Nd system, and, thus, the garnet-omphacite-whole rock Sm-Nd isochron ages have the potential to reflect garnet growth, i.e., eclogite facies metamorphism. The three eclogites yield consistent Sm-Nd isochron ages of 309 ± 4.6 Ma (H505-26), 306 ± 15 Ma (H76-10) and 305 ± 11 Ma (H711-1), reflecting HP eclogite facies metamorphism. Based on the new geochronology, detailed investigation of phase equilibria and published data, a clockwise P-T-t path with post- P max heating – decompression, subsequent isothermal decompression and final cooling – decompression is predicted for the eclogites from Chinese southwestern Tianshan. We propose, subduction of the South Tianshan paleo-ocean began before 346 Ma, the eclogite facies prograde metamorphism of the subducting oceanic crust occurred at 346–333 Ma, peak eclogite facies metamorphism at 320–305 Ma, and buoyancy-driven exhumation of the oceanic crust at 296–226 Ma.

Metamorphic evolution of relict lawsonite‐bearing eclogites from the (U) HP metamorphic belt in the Chinese southwestern Tianshan

AbstractIn the Chinese southwestern Tianshan (U)HP belt, former lawsonite presence has been predicted for many (U)HP metamorphic eclogites, but only a very few lawsonite grains have been found so far. We discovered armoured lawsonite relicts included in quartz, which, on its part, is enclosed in porphyroblastic garnet in an epidote eclogite H711‐14 and a paragonite eclogite H711‐29. H711‐14 is mainly composed of garnet, omphacite, epidote and titanite, with minor quartz, paragonite and secondary barroisite and glaucophane. Coarse‐grained titanite occasionally occurs in millimetre‐wide veins in equilibrium with epidote and omphacite, and relict rutile is only preserved as inclusions in matrix titanite and garnet. H711‐29 shows the mineral assemblage of garnet, omphacite, glaucophane, paragonite, quartz, dolomite, rutile and minor epidote. Dolomite and rutile are commonly rimed by secondary calcite and titanite respectively. Porphyroblastic garnet in both eclogites is compositionally zoned and exhibits an inclusion‐rich core overgrown by an inclusion‐poor rim. Phase equilibria modelling predicts that garnet cores formed at the P‐peak (490–505 °C and 23–25.5 kbar) and coexisted with the lawsonite eclogite facies assemblage of omphacite + glaucophane + lawsonite + quartz. Garnet rims (550–570 °C and ~20 kbar) grew subsequently during a post‐peak epidote eclogite facies metamorphism and coexisted with omphacite + quartz ± glaucophane ± epidote ± paragonite. The results confirm the former presence of a cold subduction zone environment in the Chinese southwestern Tianshan. The P–T evolution of the eclogites is characterized by a clockwise P–T path with a heating stage during early exhumation (thermal relaxation). The preservation of lawsonite in these eclogites is attributed to isolation from the matrix by quartz and rigid garnet, which should be considered as a new type of lawsonite preservation in eclogites. The complete rutile–titanite transition in H711‐14 took place in the epidote eclogite facies stage in the presence of an extremely CO2‐poor fluid with X(CO2) [CO2/(CO2 + H2O) in the fluid] &lt;&lt;0.008. In contrast, the incomplete rutile–titanite transition in H711‐29 may have occurred after the epidote eclogite facies stage and the presence of dolomite reflects a higher X(CO2) (&gt;0.01) in the coexisting fluid at the epidote eclogite facies stage.

The effect of Fe on the stability of dolomite at high pressure: Experimental study and petrological observation in eclogite from southwestern Tianshan, China

Subduction zone plays a significant role in deep carbon cycle. Solid-state reaction “dolomite (ankerite)=magnesite (siderite)+aragonite” has been first identified in two carbonated eclogites from southwestern Tianshan orogenic belt, China, which is the largest known ultra-high-pressure (UHP) oceanic subduction zone so far. In comparison to some other carbonates from high-pressure metamorphic rocks, carbonates from southwestern Tianshan carbonated eclogites and metapelites have high Fe content. In order to understand the effect of Fe on the stability of dolomite at high pressure, several experiments have been carried out using multi-anvil apparatus at pressures up to 8GPa and temperature between 600 and 1200°C. Both petrological observation and experimental study indicate that the stability of dolomite dramatically deceases with increasing Fe content in the solid solution of dolomite and ankerite at high pressure, and the peak pressure and temperature for the studied eclogites from southwestern Tianshan, China, are 2.5GPa and 550°C. The P–T conditions estimated according to dolomite decomposition in previous petrologic works should be revised by taking into account of the effect of Fe on the stability of dolomite at high pressure. More attention should also be paid to the effect of Fe on the stability of Fe-bearing carbonate during the decarbonation of the deep carbon cycle in the subduction zone.

Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic analyses of migmatite from the ‘paired metamorphic belt’ in Chinese SW Tianshan: Constraints on partial melting associated with orogeny

A paired metamorphic belt with ubiquitous migmatites and rare granulites in its high dT/dP part formed due to oceanic subduction in Chinese southwestern (SW) Tianshan. Although several geochronological studies have addressed it in recent years, the exact timing of the high-grade metamorphism and partial melting is still controversial. For this study, we selected nine samples obtained from three valleys transecting the SW Tianshan Migmatite Complex for U–Pb geochronology and Lu–Hf isotope analysis to provide constraints on partial melting and the mid-crustal evolution during oceanic subduction and subsequent continental collision.On the basis of internal morphology, Th/U ratios and REE patterns, three types of zircons are discriminated. Dating them reveals five age groups: (1) Inherited zircons either are detrital, with ages scattering from 432Ma to 3261Ma, or yield ages concentrated at 406–410Ma reflecting Early Devonian magmatism; (2) Recrystallized zircon has been transformed from pre-existing zircon under subsolidus conditions at ~400Ma and ~360Ma; (3) Metamorphic rims have grown on zircons at ~400Ma, ~290Ma and ~270Ma, corresponding to three phases of anatexis. The partial melting phase at ~400Ma is probably related to the emplacement of voluminous mafic to felsic magmas in a continental arc region above the subduction zone consuming the South Tianshan Paleo-Ocean that triggered the most extensive regional-scale thermal event. However, the two subsequent partial melting phases at ~290Ma and ~270Ma representing post-collisional stages were not penetrative. P–T conditions of the studied migmatites estimated by Hb–Pl thermobarometry and Ti-in-zircon thermometry are 682–763°C, 4.7–8.0kbar; together with composite Kfs+Q+Pl, Kfs+Q and Kfs+Q+Ab inclusions representing entrapped melt and Kfs inclusions with Ab exsolution lamellae in zircon rims, the P–T estimates support the occurrence of anatexis. Zircon Lu–Hf isotope analysis indicates that zircon rims formed under high-grade metamorphic conditions and during partial melting by dissolution–precipitation of pre-existing zircons in a close system. Zircon two-stage Hf model ages constrain the development of the protoliths of the migmatites at four major crustal formation periods (~1871Ma, 1368–1426Ma, 1099–1276Ma and 743Ma). Combined with previous researches in this area, we conclude that the main crustal formation of the Yili and Central Tianshan Plates has mostly occurred in Proterozoic times, but not or only subordinately during the Archean.

A huge oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China: Peak metamorphic age and P-T path

Recent progress in the study of the UHP metamorphic belt in southwestern Tianshan, China, is summarized in this paper. This about 80-km-long and over 10-km-wide UHP belt has been recognized by the discovery of coesite, coesite pseudomorphs and other UHP minerals. It is the largest oceanic-type UHP metamorphic belt reported so far. It has formed due to northward subduction of the Tianshan Paleo-Ocean. U-Pb dating of metamorphic rims of zircons from a coesite-bearing garnet-phengite schist yields a peak UHP metamorphic ages of 320±3.7 Ma. Combined with ages of 233–226 Ma obtained from rims of zircons from retrograded eclogites, a long retrograde metamorphic evolution (>70 Ma) has been revealed. According to phase equilibria modeling, the P-T paths of both coesite-bearing eclogites and garnet-phengite schists are characterized by thermal relaxation, i.e., the metamorphic temperature peak lags behind the pressure peak, indicating that the UHP rocks experienced slow and long heating and decompression during exhumation in the subduction channel. On the basis of the field observation that a small amount of eclogite lenses is wrapped in large volumes of metapelites, and the similar P-T paths of both rock types, we propose that the exhumation of the UHP eclogites from southwestern Tianshan, China, may have resulted from the exhumation of large volumes of low-density metapelites, which carried the denser eclogites to the Earth’s surface.

The tectonic evolution of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt: Evidence from U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from the Chinese southwestern Tianshan accretionary mélange

The Tianshan Orogenic Belt, which is located in the southwestern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is an important component in the reconstruction of the tectonic evolution of the CAOB. In order to examine the evolution of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt, we performed detrital zircon U–Pb dating analyses of sediments from the accretionary mélange from Chinese southwestern Tianshan in this study. A total of 542 analyzed spots on 541 zircon grains from five samples yield Paleoarchean to Devonian ages. The major age groups are 2520–2400Ma, 1890–1600Ma, 1168–651Ma, and 490–390Ma. Provenance analysis indicates that, the Precambrian detrital zircons were probably mainly derived from the paleo-Kazakhstan continent formed before the Early Silurian by amalgamation of the Kazakhstan–Yili microplate, the Chinese central Tianshan terrane and the Kyrgyz North and Middle Tianshan blocks, while detrital zircons with Paleozoic ages mainly from igneous rocks of the continental arc generated by the northward subduction of the south Tianshan paleocean. The age data correspond to four tectono-thermal events that took place in these small blocks, i.e., the continental nucleus growth during the Late Neoarchean–early Paleoproterozoic (~2.5Ga), the evolution of the supercontinents Columbia (2.1–1.6Ga) and Rodinia (1.3–0.57Ga), and the arc magmatism related with the Phanerozoic orogeny. The Precambrian zircons show a similar age pattern as the Tarim and the Cathaysia cratons and the Eastern India–Eastern Antarctica block but differ from those of Siberia distinctly. Therefore, the Tianshan region blocks and the Kazakhstan–Yili microplate have a close affinity to the eastern paleo-Gondwana fragments, but were not derived from the Siberia craton as proposed by some previous researchers. These blocks were likely generated by rifting accompanying Rodinia break-up in late Precambrian times.The youngest ages of the detrital zircons from the subduction mélange show a maximum depositional age of ca. 390Ma. It is coeval with the end of an earlier arc magmatic pulse (440–390Ma) but a bit older than a younger one at 360–320Ma and nearly 70–80Ma older than the HP–UHP metamorphism in the subduction zone (320–310Ma).